United Airlines Hemispheres 

This magazine cover was created by Jennifer Morla in 2002 for United Airlines, shortly after the tragedy of 9/11. Morla and her colleagues agreed on a “light, colorful, and lyrical” design to brighten the connotation behind flying after such a horrific incident. The cover itself is very simplistic, minimal, and playful, featuring vivid colors and simple shapes. 

It’s probably easier for me to say since this magazine cover was created only two years prior to my birth, but this design emits very nostalgic feelings when I look at it. The simple shapes and colors really play into the simple patterns I associate with my childhood, or in other words, the 2000s. I would not completely expect to see this design on the cover of a United Airlines magazine today, as I believe it is now somewhat outdated. I find that we have moved on to a different form of minimal yet playful design in the world of art today.

Jennifer Morla was among the most popular graphic designers from the 90s. Born in 1955 in New York, she is now based out of San Francisco where she continues her design work. In 2010, she was recognized for her remarkable work by becoming an AIGA medalist.