Top 5 Digital Covers of 2011

December is a time for looking back at the year and reviewing some of the best ideas that made it through. Earlier, we offered you the chance to check out the magazines we recommended as the most sensational from 2011. The trend now among newsstands is to show off top magazine covers of the year, so I’m adding my own list of top 5 digital edition covers from 2011.

UBM Electronics: EETimes Japan, March 2011

In the wake of the tragic earthquake and flooding in Japan, UBM Electronics scrambled together to create a digital edition for the sole purpose of raising funds and awareness for Japan. The elegant cover speaks to the effects, the literal and figurative darkness of the tragedy as well as some bright spots of people working together in the aftermath.

World Wildlife Fund: Focus, July/August 2011

Talk about inspiration. World Wildlife Fund knows the power of images and video, and they put a beautiful video of a school of fish flowing back and forth across their cover with the provocative title, "Our Coasts, Our Seas." The eye-catching action is more enrapturing than a large aquarium.

The American Prospect: Special Report – The Wal-Mart Economy, May 2011

In an age when global economies are on the forefront of most of the populace’s minds, The American Prospect touches home with its special edition on Wal-Mart’s effect on the global marketplace. It tells much of the story in the cover alone, asking readers to flip it open to learn more.

Cygnus Publishing: Sustainable Construction, Spring 2011

The angle of the photo on the cover alone inspires readers to fall into the magazine, but Cygnus takes it a step farther by incorporating animation and video to grab readers’ attention from the beginning. The cover is also designed to look as crisp and intriguing on every screen through digital optimization.

Content Marketing Institute: Chief Content Officer, October 2011

Black and white continues to have play on covers as its stark, clean look grabs the eye and marks content as important and worth a second look. This cover eschews the clutter of added graphics and extras, opting for the pop-effect of white text on black background. The color emphasis registers about the same time as the bold title, "most measurement sucks," a hook designed to snare their target audience of content developers.