D*MN THIS IS FUN: your summer design reads
A recap of the first 10 months: 24 conversations with world's most inspiring designers
Ten months ago I quietly started Club Coverjunkie’s Substack. No big plan. Just a fun place to share creativity , talk to the people behind magazine covers and, you know, spark some energy.
What surprised me the most was how it slowly turned into a real creative community. I reached out to design legends, typography lovers and magazine makers from all over the world to unpack their creative process.
We've looked at sketches, rejected ideas and stories behind brilliant covers. These conversations became the heart of Club Coverjunkie.
Its summer! Been here 10 months now, time to catch up, a recap!
Below you'll find all 24 Q&As in one easy-to-browse collection. Dip in wherever you like. These generous, brilliant creatives have shared so much over the past ten months! Enjoy! >>>
All this is exactly the kind of creative exchange I always hoped Coverjunkie could become.
As a bonus I also connected the Coverjunkie vault to the club. With a small pledge you'll get access to more than 30,000 magazine covers I've collected over the years, along with every story on Substack.
I want to thank you for reading, sharing and being part of Club Coverjunkie first ten months!
Happy summer, see you next cover :)
A VISUAL CELEBRATION: 2025’s most creative magazine covers!
Being featured on Coverjunkie.com means you’re among the world’s top 5% most creative magazine covers. Now imagine making the cut for this hot list of 2025’s best cover designs. 2025 was a wildly creative year—here the results of the poll. The Top Covers of 2025 →
DAVID HOCKNEY: A self-portrait without a face
This Vanity Fair from 1983 dropped into my mailbox. Every month or so, I treat myself to a little gift: a classic magazine found on eBay.
PROVOCATIVE: The art of activism through design
Harper’s Bazaar Taiwan just dropped their new cover for their art edition (see image at the end). A Barbara Kruger piece, where she’s pushing the traditional boundaries between art and activism. As a longtime admirer of her work, I’d love to feature this latest cover alongside a few iconic classics from my personal collection.
SHOUT-OUT: 25 must see picks in 25
I’ve selected 25 of the most creative magazine covers of 2025 to kick things off with fresh energy. A visual treat celebrating the boldest, smartest, and most surprising designs of the year (so far).
STREET DESIGN vs JURY DESIGN (IV)
Two days in a New York jury room. Looking at hundreds of magazine covers in a controlled setting. Perfect conditions.
Essay: LIPS VISUALIZE OPTIMISM!
An honor to be asked by Vogue Portugal to reflect on one of design’s strongest visual weapons: lips. They’re sensitive, seductive, expressive, and dangerous. They symbolize optimism and hint at life itself. Here’s the full story, where Vogue asked for my reflection on it from a designer’s perspective.
OIL, POWER & EMPIRE: the making of a controversial Trump cover
When Coverjunkie first encountered this cover, the reaction was one of pure flabbergasted disbelief. Striking, provocative, and impossible to ignore, the image quickly sparked debate, viewed more than one million times on Coverjunkies’ Instagram.
WARNING: Prepare for creative whiplash from GQ’s art director!
So great to speak with you, Fer! First, a quick introduction: you’re 43, Madrid-born, and a dream-driven art director, illustrator, and visual storyteller. Your work spans iconic covers for Forbes, GQ, Vanity Fair, and more — all crafted with heart, humor, and unmistakable hustle.
BREAKABLE BEAUTY: Typography meets Empathy
Dear design lovers, meet artist, creative director Lisa Naftolin. Her lettering has a rare kind of empathy—a delicate, almost breakable beauty that lingers. I was so moved by her approach that I had to learn more.
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We <3 Rob!