Another "Inspiration?" Cover

Wow ... There seems to be something funky going on in the design culture at regional magazines. Yeah, there's a lot of editorial overlap between titles, but that doesn't excuse lazy (or IMO unethical) art direction. Do publishers or editors pressure ADs to copy trendsetters like New York because they think it will boost sales? Or they think "no one will notice" because it's distributed locally?

Inspiration is one thing ... but going through old SPD annuals and picking covers to plagiarize is pretty sad.

C'mon... gee whiz!

I think it's pretty obvious that the St Louis Cover is GRASS FED BEEF as opposed to that store bought beef on the NY mag cover... which by the way is barely visible underneath all those condiments... reminds me of that ol' commercial from my choldhood "Where's the Beef?"

If that's not enough originality for you the St Louis crew also added a SUPER CUTE doggy in the upper right corner...always a crowd pleaser!

Seriously though I do like the way his little paws cradle the top of the s!
(It's all about the details folks.)

Trippelgänger! I knew Roger Black's Ready-Media would risk new magazines looking like each other, but do they have to look like old magazines too?

http://www.spd.org/2010/07/just-add-water.php#comment-1319

Wonder if Roger was involved with either of the "originals". Given his prolificity, maybe he did all three :)