Black History Magazines: South Africa’s Drum, 1950s
Drum was a South African weekly magazine founded in 1951. Initially called The African Drum, in the 1950s and 60s it was an important chronicler of black political and social life, and Drum‘s reporters covered many of the major anti-apartheid protests and events. They later branched out to publish East and West African editions. The […]
Black History Magazines: The Crisis
The Crisis was founded in 1910 by W.E.B. DuBois as the official publication of the NAACP. Within nine years it reached a circulation of 100,000. It was an important venue in its early days for African American authors, including Jean Toomer, Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Jessie Fauset. It also included powerful graphic covers by […]
Black History Magazines: Magazine (and Book) Cover Illustrations by Aaron Douglas
Aaron Douglas was an artist and muralist who came to fame during the years of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s-30s. Although he’s most known today for his paintings, he did a lot of illustration work back in the day for various book covers and magazines, especially The Crisis and Opportunity, as well as the […]
Black History Magazines: Ebony Jr!
Ebony Jr! was founded in 1973 by the publishers of Ebony and Jet as a magazine for African-American kids. The executive art director was Herbert Temple; art directors were Cecil L. Ferguson and Norman L. Hunter. Many of the covers featured striking illustrations; later editions featured celebrities, including O.J. Simpson, Gary Coleman, and Bill Cosby. […]
Black History Newspaper: The Black Panther
The Black Panther was a weekly newspaper published by the Black Panther Party from 1967-80. Art directed by Revolutionary Artist and Minister of Culture Emory Douglas, The Black Panther covers were a combination of Douglas’s own powerful illustration, collage, high-contrast photographs, and poster-like graphics. Bold and provocative, each cover was an incendiary call to action […]
Black History Magazines: Jet, 1960s
Jet magazine was founded in 1951 by John Johnson of the Johnson Publishing Company. Published in Chicago, its original tagline was “The Weekly Negro News Magazine.” It printed in a small, digest-sized format with covers that featured black and white photographs and a single spot color. Art director Herbert Temple made the most of the […]
Black History Magazines: Jet, 1950s
Jet magazine was founded in 1951 by John Johnson of the Johnson Publishing Company. Published in Chicago, its tagline was “The Weekly Negro News Magazine.” It printed in a small, digest-sized format with covers that featured black and white photographs and a single spot color. Art director Herbert Temple made the most of the limited […]
Paul Wearing’s Illustrations for Stanford Medicine Magazine
Paul Wearing is a UK-based illustrator who creates brilliant, graphic imagery with a mid-century vintage flavor. His work is bright, bold, smart and very stylish. Working with art director Dennis McLeod and design director David Armario, Wearing created a series of memorable illustrations for the Fall 2016 issue of Stanford Medicine magazine. Here’s a selection […]
SPD Pub 52 Magazine of the Year Chairperson
I’m honored to be the chairperson of this year’s Society of Publication Designers Pub 52 Magazine of the Year competition. The judging is February 10-12 in New York City, and will feature the best magazine design in the world, as well as judges from a wide array of magazines and publications.
American Illustration Profiles Interview with Polly Becker
Polly Becker is a Boston-based illustrator and artist who is known for her smart, elegant, and very imaginative assemblages. Her editorial illustrations have appeared in countless magazines and newspapers. In addition to her assemblages, Becker also works in a black and white, pen and ink style, with a strong vintage feel. She says to up-and-coming […]
