Brian Johnson Named CRMA’s Designer of the Year
By Staff | June 10, 2015
MINNEAPOLIS – Each year, the City and Regional Magazine Association (CRMA) honors one art director with the Designer of the Year Award. This year’s winner is Minnesota native and current MSP Communications creative director, Brian Johnson, for his “eye-catching portraits, sophisticated typography and captivating photo illustrations” displayed in his early 2014 work at Texas Monthly.
Johnson joined MSP Communications as creative director in August 2014 after working at Texas Monthly magazine for four years as art director, where he co-led the efforts toward an industry-leading redesign. Throughout his career, Johnson’s work as been recognized by Print magazine and CRMA, as well as his two recent gold awards from The Society of Publication Designers.
As creative director, Johnson delivers valuable expertise to numerous MSP clients, including Delta Air Lines (Sky magazine), UnitedHealthcare (Renew magazine) and The Mark Travel Corporation (the launch of Here & Beyond magazine), among others. He will also lead a redesign of MSP’s flagship title, Mpls.St.Paul magazine, early next year.
“I’m excited about getting my hands on a magazine that has been successful for so long,” says Johnson. “My goal is to create a new experience that makes a great magazine even greater and provides something unexpected to readers.”
Johnson’s colleagues at MSP Communications have watched and admired his work over the years and know how well deserved the Designer of the Year award is. “He’s an editor’s dream,” says Jayne Haugen Olson, vice president of content. “A designer who truly understands the editorial product and the important role design, type, visuals and navigation play in the end result.”
See some of Brian’s work below:
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