The Importance of Good Magazine Design

As magazine publishing becomes more experimental in terms of subject matter and content, so too do the design and printing techniques that art directors and designers employ for their titles. From the seemingly ubiquitous "white space" approaches to uncoated stock to the use of spot varnishes, the ways in which designers can differentiate their titles are many and varied.

Today, more and more publishers, art directors, and designers are taking advantage of these and becoming increasingly creative with the production of their magazines. Some—Half Empty magazine, for example—include a selection of stickers with each issue as an “extra” gift for the reader, while soDA magazine includes pull-out posters that in one issue were carefully planted between French-folded pages. The inclusion of small postcards or small removable pictures is also common. Other titles—SHERBERT is one—come with hand-printed covers or use embossing on the covers and die-cut details both inside and out.

Whatever the design technique or finish may be, it is the extra consideration involved in executing these interesting or unusual touches that makes the reader feel like they are buying something more than a disposable item that will sit on their coffee table for only a couple of weeks. These elements add value and a sense of the unique to a publication, and help turn them from throwaway items into something the reader wants to keep and treasure. Like a good book, these very niche titles become collectible, talked about, and recommended.

Design By Ramon has extensive experience in producing magazine cover and editorial treatments that will not only enhance your image, but establish an important branded look to add to the likelyhood of your magazine's survival.