Face Up: 2014 Critics' Choice

Each month, Folio: selects a unique and engaging cover and asks industry designers to weigh in and tell Folio what they think. Whether it's a consumer, B2B, regional or association title, covers are the first point of entry for readers, and can determine whether or not someone chooses to open the book. Petersen's Hunting's April/May cover may not be the timeliest, nor the best executed cover this year, but it is an outstanding case study in how to get a reader's attention. It reminds the author of something you might have seen "back in the day" on National Lampoon. It's brash and unapologetic in its graphic approach. But it also has a sense of humor, and it makes a relevant appeal to its own readers and a growing segment of farm-to-table and eat-what-you-kill hipster foodies. A look at 2014's unique and engaging covers picked by designers is presented.