UK LGBTQ+ media brand Gay Times is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Here, senior art director Jack Rowe shares five key magazine covers with progressive design language.
Rowe selected the covers from the 540 magazine covers included in Gay Times: The Exhibition, an audiovisual decade-by-decade timeline displaying the brand's journey over the past 40 years.
"It's about making a bold statement"
According to Rowe, the most successful covers were designed to make an impact, while reflecting the queer community.
"It's about making a bold statement," Rowe told Dezeen. "Our covers aim to spotlight talent in new and compelling ways, using imagery that captures attention while reflecting the diversity and vibrancy of the queer community." "The ideal cover balances visual impact with meaningful representation," he continued.
"Looking back at our covers over the past 40 years you can see an evolution in both culture and design language."

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Established in 1984, Gay Times has been documenting pivotal queer cultural moments over the past 40 years, reporting on issues such as the AIDS crisis, the repeal of Section 28 and the fight for marriage equality.
Also honouring achievements and talents within the queer community, throughout the decades the brand has profiled icons and well-known fi...