PPA Scotland Awards Shortlist Announced

The PPA Scotland 2011 Magazine Awards shortlist was announced today with a few magazines I'm involved with included in the selection.

Boots & Spurs The National Clarion member magazine has been shortlisted for member magazine of the year and best professional and business magazine design.

My redesign for TESS (Times Educational Supplement Scotland) has been shortlisted for best magazine cover and best business and professional magazine. Congratulations to TESS editor, Gillian Macdonald who has been shortlisted in the best business and professional editor catagory

Congratulations also to Think Publishing who have been recognised in a number of categories. The Biologist (I designed the winning pitch) is shortlisted for best business and professional magazine. Discover NLS, the National Library of Scotland magazine and Escape, the First Great Western passenger magazine (both of which I design) have been shortlisted for best customer magazine. In the best member magazine category Historic Scotland (which I design) has been shortlisted. Think's John Innes has also been selected for the publisher of the year award.

More information on the PPA website

Use the 'hotspot'

The hotspot is the only part of the cover that guarantees visibility. It makes up the 5% of cover space at the top left hand corner and is visible when magazines are stacked with either the left hand or top of the cover is in view.

The latest issue of the redesigned Fly Fishing & Fly Tying magazine uses the hotspot to sell the magazine's core values:

• '17 NET BUSTING FLY PATTERNS'. The language is bold and the number adds value to the magazine, there is a clear benefit to buying the magazine.
• The image of the fly is aspirational, something the reader can achieve.
• The inset of an expert tying a fly shows the magazine will help its readers achieve a goal.