NY Review of Books
August 1, 2010The New York Review of Books is one of — if not THE — most intelligent papers in this country. They get the big thinkers to take a few books, articles, movies, what have you, from their respective fields, and write insightful commentary that contextualizes those pieces within the world around us and the times we live in, all wrapped up in a “not-quite-a-magazine, not-quite-a-newspaper” floppy saddle-stitched volume every two weeks. The writing is smart, crisp, engaging — Elements of Style all the way. I feel like my brain is growing when I find the time to read it.
However. But. Nonetheless. Strangely.
The graphic design leaves everything to be desired. The cover is a train wreck—no rhyme or reason, no structure or rhythm — where random photos float around even more random type set in either an all-caps aggressive sans-serif, in red (100% magenta, 100% yellow), or in some god-awful clichéd font. The design is neither rational, calming order nor effusive, exuberant disorder, and none of it is easy on the eyes. If I saw any of their covers for the first time, I would assume it was a tabloid or an advertisement for a motivational speaker. Today I focus on the cover, but that is not to say that the interior is without design flaws (the table of contents — dreadful!). And the sizing. But one critique at a time.
I have thought a lot about how it could be that such a profound publication—wherein a great deal of care and thought has clearly been expended—ended up with such an awful design. I did some research. I found out that it started in 1963 during a printer’s strike in which the NY Times had ceased publication and the intelligensia was getting fidgety. I found out who started it and who has written in it (famous, interesting) and other historical notes, but I haven’t spent enough time on Google to answer my burning question as to the genesis of the design. I thought perhaps they wanted to demonstrate that it doesn’t matter what you look like on the outside, that one’s inner beauty is what is important. Strangely, their website looks fine, even nice. Aside from their logo. (But that is another story).
Where am I going with all this? Well, a BEFORE and AFTER, of course. Who doesn’t love a BEFORE and AFTER? I’ve added a few articles and changed a few images, but it’s basically the same content as the original June 24, 2010 cover. The NY Review (of Books) only has 135,000 subscribers, a drop in the American sized bucket. I can’t help but think that if they spent some energy on improving their design, maybe they would attract new readers. You think?
/// mpc
BEFORE:
AFTER – now, with more color –
© 2010 Martha Cooper Design
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