Computer Arts - UK (2020-06)

BEHIND THE COVER

MARK WYNNE PEEKS BEHIND THE GUIDES...

MARK WYNNE

Mark has worked in editorial

design for over 20 years,

launching and redesigning

many titles, including

the seminal video game

magazine Edge.

He’s also lectured for

The Guardian Masterclass

series on his award-winning

digital design.

[email protected]

When we knew this would be our last cover, the idea of

using this page to list our top 10 tips for cover design was

briefly kicked around the (virtual) office. But after about

half an hour of head-scratching, Art realised it didn’t

have 10 tips. All they could advise was that the glittering

wink of foils always works (we are all magpies), never ask

an illustrator to reproduce something they’ve already

done (they’ll get bored) and if your cover doesn’t look

good from two meters away, a stack of supporting

coverlines won’t help.

What we can say with certainty is that we’ve been

lucky enough to work with some of the biggest and most

exciting talents in the industry, from SPIN (“We’d rather

not use your logo...”) to Studio Sutherl& (was that Union

Jack cover a coded Brexit protest?) to Superunion (who

set fire to our cover – thanks guys). Along with a multitude

of amazing illustrators including Daniel Stolle, Hattie

Stewart and Kyle Wilkinson, it’s been an incredible cast

list that we’ve been paid to have fun with.

Finally, a huge thanks to Steve Middleton and his

incredible team at Celloglas, who from the very start

have endeavoured to make our covers stand out. From

glow-in-the-dark ink to stippled sand and even scratch

‘n’ sniff scented covers (lemon flavoured, since you

ask), Steve’s passion for print and determination to

innovate have given us more than our fair share of

memorable covers.

Maybe this is the real lesson for us to pass on: that the

best work is born from creative collaboration. Two plus

two really can equal five if you’re working with the best...