What better way to spotlight an enterprising alum who creates and hosts music festivals than with a big, bold microphone slightly melting in the sun, just like faithful attendees of his boisterous and sweaty outdoor events? (My copy editor calls it a microcone, a nod to festival food.) My designer came up with a font and style for the front cover that mimics the vibe of event posters. The tease “Sweet Music” is a play on the alum's last name, Sweetwood. And the saturated red, in coordination with the white masthead, is a tribute to our school's colors, red and white. We haven't used red this way on our covers in years, because it overpowers most text and art. But this cover demands attention and fits the energy of the story it features. Our library displays several of our magazines, free for the taking, and this issue emptied out quickly.
From the Judges
This cover uses a creative illustration to tell a story. It's attention-grabbing and interesting. Reviewers noted the texture work and the strong "festival feel" and "vintage poster vibes." Overall, fun and visually compelling cover executed by an in-house team.
