For several years we invited students to design a cover for an imaginary issue of Design Graphics and, more recently, DG magazine. Here are the results and a selection of entries from the 2007 competition. This competition was open to all students studying an appropriate course at an Australian tertiary institution. Congratulations to the winners!

Student Design Competition 2008

For 2008 we have made some important changes to the competition. The competition is now called the ‘DG Student Design Competition’ and has expanded to offer a choice of designing a magazine cover or website home page and there is a new division for secondary school students. Visit the Call for Entries page for more information.

Reality design project
As always, the judges job was difficult as there were so many good entries in 2007. But the online format gives us the opportunity to extend the gallery of notable entries to include a greater number than ever before. In total, 96 cover designs are on display! View the gallery of entries here.

Design tips for 2008
Here are some tips for those considering entering this year’s competition.In designing a successful cover, subtle forces come into play. Magazine covers are generally designed to attract attention (sometimes called ’shelf presence’) and to reflect the style of the publication. With this in mind, there are some basic rules that make a good starting point. The use of a single, eye-catching image, for example, is a good place to start —and you will notice that these are the covers that once again proved successful.The golden rule of magazine cover design is that the image should contain some ‘emotional content’ that give it pick-up appeal. If the design is too ‘busy’, is too abstract, or the colours are too dark or dingy, it will not be immediately noticed on the shelf. By all means challenge the shelf browsers, but don’t ask too much of them. The publisher wants the magazine to stand out and attract new readers, as well as ring in the regulars. Try to create ‘graphic charisma’.

Every year, many entries build designs around visual puns (spiders, webs, mice and apples). While some may look good, visual puns have been done to death and are a little too obvious. Other entries employed images of human body parts — brains and quite a lot of blood (you want to attract readers, not turn them off). Additionally, there have been a few entries that displayed images of syringes and themes of drug use which are not appropriate to the competition. Finally, while dark, dull and dismal colours might make great atmospheric images; rarely do they make good covers. Glossy dark covers also show fingermarks which can be a turn-off for people wanting to buy a pristine, new magazine.

Having said that, any of these ‘rules’ are breakable in the interests of good design. And many of our entrants rose to the challenge with a mix of good ideas and professional execution. Congratulations to those featured here. As a final word of advice to those interested in future competitions — read the brief, and try to put aside your personal interests and hobbies. After all, in the real world, it is following the brief that will ultimately win you the job!

To see the winning entries, click here.

To view the gallery of winners, commendations, and notable entries, click here.

The winners for 2007 are:

First Place:
James Bryant, Bachelor of Arts (Design & Communication), University of the Sunshine Coast.
Runner Up:
Brad Scott, Graphic Design/ Bachelor of Design, Sydney Graphics College.
Runner Up:
Samantha Stevens, Graphic Arts, 2nd Year, Gordon Institute of TAFE.

Commendations:

Louise Brough, Advanced Diploma Arts/Graphic Design, Holmesglen TAFE.
Jesse Hodgson, Diploma of Graphic Design, 2nd Year, Sunshine Coast TAFE.
Amberly Kramhoft, Graphic Design Diploma, Western Sydney Institute.
Faye Pannell, Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design, Central TAFE, Perth.
Kitidej Rattanasuvansri, Diploma of Graphic Design, 2nd Year, Southbank Institute of Technology.
Hans Christian Surzawan, Sydney Graphics College.
Christina Wardle, Graphic Design Diploma, 2nd Year, Hornsby TAFE.
Laura Wong, Bachelor of Design, 2nd Year, Sydney Graphics College.

Filed under: DG Student Design Competition