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Saturday Happenings
Sunday Happenings
Today's Globe mentioned Boston Magazine's recent flub over this month's "Power Issue" cover. Listing the Top 100 Most Powerful People in Boston, the issue has been getting a lot of press in the local media. Well, the list might be all well and good, but the black and white cover of Governor Mitt Romney with a green "POWER" across his chest is not great. Turns out the February 2005 issue of Texas Monthly had this same cover design months ago and now Boston Magazine is looking a little sketchy.
Texas Monthly editor, Evan Smith, is torn up over it; he told the Globe, "I would describe my reaction as somewhere between heart attack and freak out." Boston Magazine editor Jon Marcus had this to say, "It's done and it's been done to us a lot. We, as a matter of principle, haven't done it and don't do it." But they did do it, didn't they?
Bostonist isn't quite sure what Texas Monthly can really do about this, but it sure makes Boston Magazine look bad. They could have at least changed the "POWER" to an eye-catching magenta or something.
The Most Insincere Form of Flattery
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i am always astounded when things are just blatantly ripped off. did boston magazine not think anyone was going to notice? i mean, i know their circulation is small, but come on. pretty weak defense from marcus, too. ouch.
Also, why is Mitt even on the cover? Isn't he the guy who promised to get more Republicans into the state legislature and ended up with the largest Democratic majority since the civil war? The guy whose moust touted legislative project is a bill to bring back the death penalty, which has a snowball's chance in hell of getting passed? The guy who opposed gay marriage and lost, and looked like a fool when the Attorney General refused to press the issue with the SJC? Sorry, I realize I'm ranting, but Mitt is hardly emblematic of clout in this Commonwealth.
Magenta - my favorite Crayola color, from 1980-1985.
I'm a graphic designer by trade and I can tell you that in my opinion the rip off seems more of an coincidence than blatant theft. Secondly, from what I can tell, Boston's cover has the better design.
Using the word "POWER" in green is quite common because that word, specific to American culture, conjures up the green of money. Studies show that corporates actually prefer blue when it comes to money matters but the word power is a money word. Secondly, the use of a black and white photo of a man is incredibly common for the front cover of a magazine (Men's Health), an ad (Calvin Klein), or even a commercial (too many examples). It's more graphic and makes men seem more styled and sophisticated.
In other words, when you know a little something about design these kinds of situations seem more like the inevitable rather than a 'rip off'.
One last comment: While there are core elements of design that are timeless, much of today's media design follows trends. Sooner or later two designs are going to cross paths and look like each other. It's normal.
How is a B&W picture of a person automatically "ripped off"???
Seems like a basic, common idea to me. On a different note, I was personally happy to see Boston magazine not pander to the pc thugs and show my man Mitt on the cover.
right, those crazy pc thugs at boston magazine. isn't noam chomsky their editor these days?