Title:
the new yorker
Issue: july 8-15
circulation: 1,056,000
Creative Director: Wyatt Mitchell
“The New Yorker’s ‘Moment of Joy’ cover proves that great ideas never die, they just bide their time in the vault until the right time. And by ‘the vault’ I’m talking about the mind of Françoise Mouly. Mouly gets several submissions from illustrators every week. So many that a few years ago she started a Tumblr blog ( blowncovers.com) showcasing the great ones she is unable to publish.‘Moment of Joy’ was one such ‘blown cover,’ originally submitted in 2012 by illustrator Jack Hunter in a slightly different form (Here, the Supreme Court replaces President Obama).Hunter’s dramatic lighting, painterly texture, limited color palette and surprising composition are both witty and beautiful. He has created a very ‘real’ moment between beloved, yet fictional, characters.The once nostalgic and forward-looking Sesame Street speaks to many generations.And Bert and Ernie have been part of our cultural family since 1969. The grey room and black and white TV are a subtle nod to this longevity even mirroring the actual relationship in the case before the Court.In The New Yorker tradition there are no cover lines, ensuring this is one of the few places, issue after issue, where pure editorial illustration commands your attention. The right illustrator, the right magazine, the right couple and finally, the right timing, made this one of the best covers of 2013.”
- Dave McKenna, Art Director, 5280 Magazine
“The New Yorker’s ‘Moment of Joy’ cover proves that great ideas never die, they just bide their time in the vault until the right time. And by ‘the vault’ I’m talking about the mind of Françoise Mouly. Mouly gets several submissions from illustrators every week. So many that a few years ago she started a Tumblr blog (blowncovers.com) showcasing the great ones she is unable to publish.‘Moment of Joy’ was one such ‘blown cover,’ originally submitted in 2012 by illustrator Jack Hunter in a slightly different form (Here, the Supreme Court replaces President Obama).Hunter’s dramatic lighting, painterly texture, limited color palette and surprising composition are both witty and beautiful. He has created a very ‘real’ moment between beloved, yet fictional, characters.The once nostalgic and forward-looking Sesame Street speaks to many generations.And Bert and Ernie have been part of our cultural family since 1969. The grey room and black and white TV are a subtle nod to this longevity even mirroring the actual relationship in the case before the Court.In The New Yorker tradition there are no cover lines, ensuring this is one of the few places, issue after issue, where pure editorial illustration commands your attention. The right illustrator, the right magazine, the right couple and finally, the right timing, made this one of the best covers of 2013.”
- Dave McKenna, Art Director, 5280 Magazine
Face Up:
2013 Year in Review
Each month, Folio: selects a unique and engaging cover and asks industry designers to weigh in with their critiques. Whether it’s a consumer, b-to-b, regional or association title, covers are the first point of entry for readers, and can be a deciding factor in whether or not someone chooses to open the book.
A slew of magazine covers garnered attention in 2013—some good, some bad, depending who you asked. Folio:’s editors selected some of the year’s most notable covers and asked six designers to pick one and explain why it stood out. 