CANVAS
Cover Story
Coverjunkie’ s Jaap Biemans talks career, print in the age of digital and his addiction to‘ ace’ magazine covers good enough to lick
Interview Patrick Kasingsing images Courtesy of Jaap Biemans
Hello! Please introduce yourself. I ' m Jaap Biemans in the real world, but in the digital world you may know me as Coverjunkie haha! That ' s a blog where I celebrate the acest cover designs from all around the world. During the day, yes in the real world, I ' m the art director of Volkskrant Magazine based in Amsterdam and the father of two happy kids.
What got you hooked on graphic design? Did you know early on in your life that this was what you wanted to do?
I ' ve always loved drawing. I was that kid in class that was always carrying a pencil in hand. That may have something to do with it.
Graphic design in its purest form is structuring or arranging elements of information. The thing that I love about it is that allows me the power to create a whole new atmosphere by using illustrations, typography and photography.
You are currently art director of the Dutch publication Volkskrant Magazine, which has reaped multiple design awards for its beautiful and thought-provoking art direction. How did you start your career in Volkskrant? That was easy; I just sent them an email. My luck there was that at the same time they were searching for someone who can deliver a whole new look and approach. I remember my first cover was a close up of a mouth that was sucking a popsicle. That was such a beautiful contrast to the old grumpy looking people they mostly carried on their covers before.
What inspired the design direction of your covers? Can you name some of the design influences you had that pushed you to pursue such a direction?
Definitely David Carson, the notorious art director from Ray Gun made me realize the potential of spectacle with covers. I remember when he launched a cover upside down. That was in the middle of the nineties when I attended art school. I was flabbergasted! In 2018, nobody would blink an eye but back in the day this was a shocker( refer to opposite page).
How would you describe your approach or art direction for Volkskrant? What design principles, themes or motifs do you often utilize in your work?
I always abide by this line: a cover has got to smack you in the face or make you wanna lick it. What I really mean here is it ' s got to bring some emotion out of the reader, be it a look of surprise, a laugh or amazement.
47