Five Gay Times magazine that “balance visual impact with meaningful representation" -Design Post 24

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    Gay Times is not only just a magazine it is a commodity serving as a benchmark supporting the LGBTQ+ community in media. 2024 highlights their 40th anniversary by exhibiting a collection of their most iconic covers over the years. The exhibition is a visual journey down memory lane reflecting the evolution of both design and queer culture.

    The article for this week's blog post is titled “Five Gay Times magazine that “balance visual impact with meaningful representation” by Douglas Jardim.

Link: https://www.dezeen.com/2024/07/02/gay-times-magazine-covers-history/

    Rowe told Dezeen “It’s about making a bold statement.” “Our covers aim to spotlight talent in new and compelling ways, using imagery that captures attention while reflecting the diversity and vibrancy of the queer community.”

“The ideal cover balances visual impact with meaningful representation.”

    Making its debut in 1984, Gay Times has been a pivotal influence on the gay community discussing topics such as the AIDS epidemic, the Section 8 repeal, and the unstable fight for marriage equality. They have also featured some of the most popular icons in society including Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Grace Jones, and Lady Gaga.

    Jardim states, “For Gay Times: The Exhibition, the brand's extensive archive of queer media was collated and curated for general public viewing, with a short bio on each era, starting with the first-ever cover featuring the Gay Times masthead in May 1984.”

    Below are the five cover highlights that Rowe has shared with Dezeen in representation of the 40th anniversary.

Bronski Beat, Issue 75, November 1984

    This issue was the first Gay Times magazine displaying strong lines, sharp angles, noisy images from scans, colorful geometrical shapes, gawdy headlines, and an overall genuine authentic 1980s style.

    The feature on the front is DJ Absolute of British band Bronski Beat's queer anthem Smalltown Boy and they are celebrating their 40th anniversary as well.

Kylie Minogue, July 1994

    By this time technology had made some significant advances. Font software was created, and that made it easier for designers to decide upon various fonts.

    Kylie Minogue was posed in such away that loud, vibrant font choices could be place on top and in the surrounding empty spaces.

    Row states: “As you move through the decades, you can visually see the shift of new design technologies," Rowe said.

"You start seeing 'Word Art' style headlines and the high-flash photography trend of the 90s."

Orville Peck, Issue 508, Autumn 2020

    In 2020, the Gay Times made a move to issue their magazine quarterly instead of monthly. They completely rebranded their magazine embracing a new approach for the future through a minimalistic, modern look. Also, when selecting typography and photography elements, they draw inspiration from the person who is being featured on the cover.

Bimini, Issue 514, December 2021

    Gay Times has adopted a simpler cover design focusing on the cover star rather than feature titles. The cover featuring drag queen Bimini is an example of this new style, with a digitally created, striking image of her in a punk-inspired setting. This approach aims to create covers that are both authentic to the featured individual and the LGBTQ+ community while also being visually bold and challenging.

Unity!, Issue 518, April 2022

    The "Unity!" issue of Gay Times celebrated the trans community with a powerful cover featuring multiple people in an embrace. The cover design emphasized the importance of trans inclusion in the LGBTQ+ acronym with a discolored "T" in the magazine's masthead. Gay Times wants you to feel a sense of belonging and inclusivity through their cover designs that represent the diverse queer community.

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