My art director and I always seem to struggle over creating covers for some of our publications' special issues (Top 50 companies, Annual look at the industry, Supplier's guide, etc.). I hate throwing a "2007" or "Top 50" on there, it's such a cop out in most cases. I would be curious to hear how others approach these kinds of covers. It seems like they could be an opportunity for more creativity than usual, but it never works out that way.

The Tabbie awards have a category called, "Front Cover, Special Issue" ... you can check out these links and scroll down to see the winners in that category from the past few years. That might give you an idea for one of your magazines.

http://www.tabpi.org/2006/2006d.htm

http://www.tabpi.org/2005/2005d.htm

http://www.tabpi.org/2004/2004d.htm

Special issues really can be difficult to design. In the past, my magazines have created the buyers' guide covers with illustrations or photography that relates to shopping/website and then added text or images to relate it to the magazine. For example, we used a soda vending machine on the cover of the buyers' guide. Then we made the buttons represent the different categories in the issue. Make the cover into a piece of art. Hope that helps some. Good luck with your next design and remember to think outside the box.

Thank you for the ideas and links.

Jennifer, who generally comes up with the initial concept? My natural assumption is that it is either the chief editor or the chief editor in conjunction with the art director. Or do you ever do it the other way around, and have the art director suggest a starting point? Or is it a round-robin session with the whole editorial/art staff?

We just did a 25th anniversary issue. We had a concept in Content, but our Art Director did 5 different versions/colors to see what we would like best. We voted on the cover concept...
This was not my favorite, but it was the winner.
http://www.greenbeam.com/rs/gm_pdfs/18353_OFC.pdf
It printed in metallic blue.

We had a lot of time to play with the concept. (It's not like anniversaries are a surprise.)

I hope that helps.

There are some great covers here, but it's important not to borrow too much from other people.

Your Design Editor's job is to design so you should let them spend as much time as possible on working on covers.

Brainstorming is always good, but at the end of the day allow one person, your designer, make the decision.