The Forward MAgazine
After 120 years of printing on newsprint — the Forward, established in 1897, transitioned to a monthly, glossy magazine in 2017. I was responsible for the re-design, working closely with management, editors and other stakeholders. The challenge was to find a new way to tell the Forward’s story, one that took full advantage of the immersive, visual possibilities of a glossy magazine, while preserving the sense of urgency and newsiness that the Forward’s readers look for.
Covers
My cover illustration alludes Salinger’s grim WWII experiences, descibed in the touted article. The design references 40’s Time magazine covers, corresponding to the years of Salinger’s literary ascendency.
SPREADS
Nabakov’s ‘Lolita‘ was based on the story of a real-life kidnapping. A punchy, tabloid-ish headline and a vintage news photo set the tone in the opening spread.
A shadowy organization targets political activists who support the BDS movement. Bold, posterized colors unify the artwork for this multipage investigative story.
Splat
Philip Roth’s death in May of 2018 occasioned a couple big pieces about Roth in the Forward. It also provoked me to finally read Portnoy’s Complaint.
The book’s psychotherapeutic framing device, and Portnoy’s shockingly gleeful effluences gave me the idea of melding Rorschach blots with Roth’s photos at early, middle and late stages of his life.
