Mock 1989 TV Guide
Magazine Cover
(2023)
Tags
Student WorkGraphic DesignEditorial DesignTypographyVisual HierarchyCompositionThis project involved designing a mock TV Guide magazine cover set in 1989.
The goal was to replicate the visual language, layout conventions, and editorial tone of late-1980s print media while working entirely within a contemporary digital workflow.
The cover centers on Jaleel White in his role as Steve Urkel from Family Matters, styled and composed to reflect the era’s bold typography, saturated color palettes, and dense information hierarchy.
Headlines, type scale, and placement were intentionally exaggerated to mirror the visual rhythm and attention-grabbing nature of television magazines from the period.
Rather than modernizing the layout, my goal with this project was to emphasize historical accuracy and constraint.
Typefaces, spacing, color usage, and cover structure were informed by reference issues from the late 1980s, allowing the design to feel period appropriate while still maintaining clarity and legibility.
The project required detailed photo editing, compositing, and typographic control, reinforcing skills in image masking, color correction, layering, and non-destructive editing techniques.