20th anniversary special

The Take Cover Project – David Shrigley

The Take Cover Project – David Shrigley

Cartoonist, illustrator, video director and our favourite exponent of contemporary outsider art
How was 1991 for you?
I graduated from Glasgow School Of Art in 1991. It
was the first time in my life I was not in full-time education, and it was a bit scary and depressing.
Have the last 20 years been good to you?
Apart from 1991, the last 20 years have been very good. Since 1996, I have been a full-time artist, and the life of an artist is the best life you can have.
Can you tell us a bit about the thinking behind your cover image?
I suppose the critical aspect of the cover is that the drawing doesn’t look anything like Tom Cruise. So maybe that’s why it is a Tom Cruise cover idea, rather than a Tom Cruise cover.
Today’s 20th anniversary cover is by cartoonist, illustrator, video director and our favourite exponent of contemporary outsider art, David Shrigley. [Read more...]

20th anniversary special

The Take Cover Project – Richard James

The Take Cover Project – Richard James

Today’s birthday cover is from menswear stalwart Richard James, setting the benchmark on Savile Row for the last 15 years.

20th anniversary special

Take Cover Project – Rankin

Take Cover Project – Rankin

Here’s the April cover as depicted by era-defining portrait and fashion photographer Rankin, also film director, co-founder of Dazed & Confused and Esquire contributor.

20th anniversary special

The Take Cover Project continued

The Take Cover Project continued

Today’s distinctive redesign of our 20th anniversary cover comes courtesy of Italo Zucchelli, Creative Director Menswear, Calvin Klein Collection. [Read more...]

20th anniversary special

The Take Cover Project – Modern Toss

The Take Cover Project – Modern Toss

A good way to start the week – the Esquire cover as imagined by Modern Toss. Mick Bunnage and Jon Link, creators of the cult TV series, cartoons, books and greetings cards, featuring Alan (shown here) a sociopathic scribble. [Read more...]

20th anniversary special

The Take Cover Project – Kean Etro

The Take Cover Project – Kean Etro

Today’s design is thanks to the flamboyant menswear designer for the Milan-based fashion house founded by his father.

20th anniversary special

Today’s cover – Michael Stipe

Today’s cover – Michael Stipe

Vocalist and lyricist for REM, social activist and visual artist. Out Of Time, the band’s breakthrough, Grammy Award-winning album, was released 20 years ago this month
Can you tell us a bit about the thinking behind and creative process involved in your cover design?
It’s inspired by the re-emergence of op art in the past several years, in particular Vasarely. I’ve been kind of obsessively using stripes in all the visual elements for the next REM release, and I decided to extend this to the Esquire cover. The graphic simplicity and boldness define 2011. I am excited to see how the other covers look; I love the idea of seeing them all side by side, either on a newsstand, or on a wall. Thank you for the opportunity to have some fun with this.
REM’s new album Collapse Into Now is out on 7 March
Just like Esquire, REM’s Out Of Time, the band’s breakthrough, Grammy Award-winning album, was released 20 years ago this month. We asked Michael Stipe to explain the thinking behind his Esquire cover design (above). [Read more...]

20th anniversary special

The Take Cover Project – day 9

The Take Cover Project – day 9

Husband, father, son and safety inspector at Springfield Nuclear Power Plant
What do you remember of 1991?
America was in a horrible economic slump, mired in Iraq, trying to overcome the presidency of George Bush. Thank God that’s all in the past.
How have the last 20 years been for you?
The first 10 were a blissful binge of beer, bowling and bar snacks. Then those goddamn kids came along.
What has been your proudest moment over the last two decades?
Not getting killed doing something incredibly stupid.
What advice would you give to men in 2011?
Don’t have sex with women born later than 1993.
What’s next?
Beats me. I was hoping you guys were going to take me to lunch.
One of the most popular covers in the Take Cover Project has been this one of Homer by Simpsons’ creator Matt Groening. We asked the husband, father, son and safety inspector at Springfield Nuclear Power Plant some questions on the last 20 years: [Read more...]