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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 .
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