The cover is the prime location for a magazine to show off its best designs, but Thomas Heatherwick's 'Friction Cover' turns the form of the cover itself into the most impressive design feature. The cover, made for Wallpaper Magazine's 20th anniversary issue, comes with hinges joined such that the entire cover can swivel upwards to reveal a hidden number "20" in black and white.
Heatherwick designed the Friction Cover accidentally, as the hinging mechanism was originally meant for a table that he had been working on. However, when approached by the creative director of Wallpaper magazine to design their 20th anniversary cover, Heatherwick decided to transfer the idea to the printed page.
The Wallpaper issue comes pre-assembled in stores with plastic pins, but consumers also have the option to purchase a regular cover and assemble the Friction Cover mechanism themselves.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Interactive Magazine Covers
- Designing magazine covers that incorporate interactive elements, such as hinged mechanisms, can provide a unique and engaging reading experience.
- Creative Print Designs
- Exploring innovative print design techniques, like hinging mechanisms, allows for eye-catching and memorable magazine covers.
- Unexpected Design Applications
- Adapting design ideas from one medium to another, like repurposing a table hinge for a magazine cover, can lead to unexpected and disruptive innovations.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Publishing
- The publishing industry can benefit from incorporating interactive elements into magazine covers to attract and engage readers.
- Graphic Design
- Graphic designers can explore hinged designs and innovative print techniques to create visually striking and unique magazine covers.
- Product Design
- Product designers can find opportunities in adapting ideas and design concepts from one product category to another, such as repurposing hinges for unconventional applications.
