A great design should inspire curiosity and communicate a powerful message. An art director that meets this standard is George Lois. His works speak to me with his unpredictable designs while still making a revolutionary political statement. The most well-known work that Lois has done is probably his 92 Esquire magazine covers. He brilliantly integrates current issues and a unique design aesthetic that immediately catches the audience’s eyes.

Lois effectively uses design principles to make his covers look more captivating and dynamic. The human figures are reaching their legs/arms up but still look restricted and somewhat helpless. He uses proximity to associate the graphics with the headlines. The visual hierarchy is also working well so that the audience notices their faces first and then the magazine title.

One of the most unforgettable Esquire covers is this one depicting Sonny Liston as America’s first black Santa. I love the colour contrast and how simple this design is, focusing on Liston’s solemn character. Aside from the art directing, the theme that this cover conveys is so inspirational to contemporary American society at the time and this shows that Lois is a designer who isn’t afraid to speak his mind and turn his ideas into art.