Tasked with paying homage to David Bowie, one of the most influential entertainers of this generation, Brazilian magazine 'Veja' did something it has never done in its 48 year history -- print 12 different covers of the same issue. For Rafael Costa, Veja's art director, the moment warranted the unique editorial decision, honoring a once-in-a-lifetime personality like Bowie.
Each cover is a portrait of the iconic singer in varying personas and styles, with a song lyric quoted from the same era. Apart from Bowie's dates of birth and death, no other words or images were used on the cover. The bold move proved to be a success for Costa, who has been entrusted with a visual makeover of the aging publication. The staggering 12 cover issue gained international attention, appearing in stories across American and European news agencies.
Homage-Paying Magazine Covers
Brazilian Publication 'Veja' Printed 12 Different David Bowie Covers
Trend Themes
1. Tribute Magazine Covers - The trend of creating multiple covers for a magazine issue as tribute to a person or event provides an opportunity for brands to showcase their creativity and pay homage to important figureheads or moments.
2. Minimalist Magazine Covers - The trend of having only one image and minimal text on a magazine cover can be adopted to capture attention and allow a single visual concept to stand out to viewers.
3. Visual Redesign of Publications - The visual makeover of aging publications, through the use of creative and modern designs, provides the opportunity for publishers to capture a fresh, younger audience while still maintaining their existing readership.
Industry Implications
1. Magazine Publishing - The magazine publishing industry can benefit from adopting the trend of creating multiple tribute covers to honor important figureheads or moments, and to spark the interest of potential readership.
2. Graphic Design - The graphic design industry can benefit from the minimalist cover trend, by producing eye-catching designs that will help brands or publications stand out on shelves or news agents.
3. Print Media - The print media industry can benefit from a visual redesign of aging publications, providing the opportunity to reach and engage with a younger audience, while maintaining their existing readership.