In June 1968, the cover story of TIME magazine was about The Gun in America, featuring a powerful illustration by Roy Lichtenstein. 30 years later, TIME had to resume the discussion. In 2012 – 44 years later – there is still no sufficient gun control in the United States. The title typography may change, the problem remains the same.
Moral lessons aside, this is an interesting typographic lesson, too. Normally I would moan that Optima is too weak and ambiguous for a topic like this, but these two covers prove that sometimes the typeface isn’t as important as color (the yellow pops!), placement, and simplicity — both typefaces work equally well.
2 Comments on “TIME magazine, “The Gun in America” (1968, 1998, ?)”
Moral lessons aside, this is an interesting typographic lesson, too. Normally I would moan that Optima is too weak and ambiguous for a topic like this, but these two covers prove that sometimes the typeface isn’t as important as color (the yellow pops!), placement, and simplicity — both typefaces work equally well.
Also a lesson on the abuse of Photoshop drop shadows in the 1998 version.