9 Special Issues of The New York Times Magazine

This project has been selected in the Editorial category in The Annual 2019, CR’s award scheme celebrating the best in commercial creativity

Headed up by Design Director Gail Bichler and Art Director Matt Willey, the New York Times Magazine has become well-known for its brilliantly thought-out art direction and creative way of discussing the important topics of our times. This is especially true when it comes to its special themed issues. In 2018, these ranged from food to the Olympics.

Highlights include the climate issue, which was dedicated to a single story about the decade when the world could have saved the planet but failed to act and showed the scary real-world consequences through aerial photos taken over the course of a year, and a particularly uplifting New York issue dedicated to the L word: love. Instead of just showing one loved-up couple on the front cover, Director of Photography, Kathy Ryan commissioned photographer Ryan McGinley to shoot 24 covers in 24 hours, showing 24 different couples kissing in the back of an open-air vehicle moving through the city.

Credits:
Design Director: Gail Bichler. Art Director: Matt Willey. Deputy Art Director: Ben Grandgenett. Designers: Claudia RubÍn, Rachel Willey. Director of Photography: Kathy Ryan. Deputy Photo Editor: Jessica Dimson. Associate Photo Editors: Stacey Baker, Amy Kellner, Christine Walsh. Photo Assistant: Pia Peterson.
Olympics Issue: Photographers: Idris Khan, Finlay Mackay, Giles Price, Nick Veasey, Dina Litovsky, Jeff Minton, Holly Andres, Calle Huth, Benjamin Lowy. Illustrators: Tatsuro Kiuchi, Michael Houtz. Type Design: Henrik Kubel.
Music Issue: Photographers: Jack Davison, Mamadi Doumbouya, Ryan McGinley, Eva O’Leary, Danna Singer.
Voyages Issue: Photographers: Joakim Eskildsen, Piotr Chmielinski, Ricardo Bravo, Brent Stirton, Andrea Frazzetta, Philip Montgomery.
New York Issue: Photographers: Ryan McGinley, Matthew Pillsbury, Philip Montgomery, Dina Litovsky, Dolly Faibyshev, Wayne Lawrence, Jack Davison, Gillian Laub, Elizabeth Back, Elinor Carucci, Todd Heisler, Alec Soth, Hannah La Follette Ryan, Ruddy Roye, Isadora Kosofsky, Sasha Rudensky, Danna Singer, Mark Peterson, Mamadi Doumbouya, Devin Yalkin.
Climate Issue: Photographers:
George Steinmetz.
Voyages / Sound Issue: Photographers: Philip Montgomery, Piotr Naskrecki, Thierry Cohen, Dina Litovsky, Karine Laval, Yagazie Emezi, Awoiska van der Molen, Benjamin Lowy, Dhruv Malhotra, Matthew Brandt.
Candy Issue: Photographers: ClaireBenoist, Bobby Doherty, Spencer Lowell, Christopher Payne. Illustrator: Ori Toor.
Tech & Design Issue: Photographers: Jamie Chung, Landon Nordeman, Benjamin Rasmussen. Illustrators: Delcan & Company, Brian Rea. Prop Stylist: Pink Sparrow.
CG Work: Justin Metz.
Great Performers Issue: Design: Deb Bishop. Photographer: Philip Montgomery.