One of my favourite things about Martha Stewart Living is its layout and its very carefully-designed pages. Among the most popular features of the magazine is the photographic glossary, an idea that was developed by Martha Stewart and Gael Towey when the magazine first began. Nearly each issue would contain a glossary of one subject or another: rice, peonies, tomatoes, peas, tulips, spices, etc. It's a feature that continues to this day. "Our Glossaries are the perfect confluence of information and inspiration," Gael Towey writes on her website. "They work like visual encyclopedias. We endeavored to be as comprehensive as a scientific journal, conceiving of our Glossaries as a sensuous marriage of words and photographs. Glossaries put us in touch with growers across the country and it was a privilege to meet them. The photography for our Glossaries has a heroic simplicity and coveys the respect and awe the photo team felt for the farmers who grew these treasures." You can see more of these glossaries, plus much more of Gael's design work with the magazine, by clicking here. Below are some of my favourites.
Fabulous post! Such extravagant visuals!
ReplyDeleteI realize there is a lot of positive comment re the new more contemporary look to MSL magazine. Unfortunately I do believe the detailed depth and beauty of glossaries, similar to the ones listed, are somewhat lost in the new style
ReplyDeleteAPM
Yes, they're not quite as luxe.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, these were always some of my favorite sections of MSL. I learned a lot from these glossaries!
ReplyDeleteTruly inspiring.
Gorgeous images love this post Andrew
ReplyDeleteSigh, Since Martha Stewart was removed as CEO, I've longed for the beauty and elegance of her magazine, which now just seems to have lost some of her influence.
ReplyDeleteArticles on make-up and clothes, issues that are thinner and thinner, a website with recipes that lack proper instructions, if Martha was fully at the helm, these things would never be.
Trying to be like O is not the way to attract new subscribers. Martha Stewart Magazine was never broken, being contemporary should not mean superficial.
I feel as if the staff except for a few like Darcy Miller, seem to lack that perfectionism that made Martha Stewart Magazine exceptional, in appearance and content.