Issue 04/2023

ioplastics MAGAZINE [04/23] Vol. 18
21
innovations:
of bioplastics MAGAZINE
Since we are of course incredibly proud of this
anniversary issue, we also wanted to show this
succinctly on the cover. The concept naturally comes
first and dictates the basic framework of the look. In the
past, we have decorated milestones and anniversaries
with silver applications. We wanted to stick to that
concept and increase the significance – so we’re going
for gold baby. In addition, we replaced the organic
green frame in this issue with a dark background in
order to visually distinguish it from the 99 issues that
came before, and to emphasize even more that this
anniversary is exceptional. If this is too blatant for
you at this point, all I can say is, “Sorry – not sorry”. A
design like this stays with the big anniversaries, and
they don’t come along every day.
By Philipp Thielen
Head of Design & Digital Operator
bioplastics MAGAZINE
Let’s talk about “the cover girls”. While it is unusual
for a trade magazine to have people on the cover at all,
it was initially something that kind of just happened –
and if things happen twice in a row, it’s a rule (German
proverb – probably). And let’s be honest, 2006 was a
different time, the argument “sex sells” was less
controversial – even if we did not pick the “cover girls”
for their sex appeal. Yet, holding on to that tradition did
not come without criticism.
In the last three years, a lot of changes have taken
place, both in terms of content and structure. When it
came to the cover, we tried to incorporate the criticism
while holding on to the tradition of a “cover person”. The
“cover-girl concept” remained, however, we gradually
moved away from images that fit the topic, towards
showcasing women of the industry. The plastics
industry is still a male-dominated one, although times
are changing – and so are we. It was therefore crystal
clear to us that the cover of the 100 th issue would also
be different. If you look at the cover, you already know
what I’m getting at, but let me tell you more about it.
Three years ago, Alex started as an editorial assistant
for the daily-news. Thanks to his background with his
Master’s in Creative Writing, this was easy work which
gradually expanded to editing articles and, every once
in a while, writing one himself.
In terms of content, Alex had always had contact
with the magazine and the topic of bioplastics, as he
supported the magazine at trade fairs and conferences
for years, and of course, knew the magazine. Until today,
this perfectly fitting combination of technical knowhow
and interest, probably even passion for the
content has developed to such an extent that Alex
has now become the absolutely legitimate Editor-in-
Chief. Of course, you also know him from the editorial.
Alex is also responsible for the ”new” topics Advanced
Recycling and Carbon Capture and Utilisation – CCU
and has already built up certain expertise there.
If you are keen to know more about it, Alex talked about
it in a recent podcast (see link at the end).
Like Alex, I also have had contact with the industry
and the topic of bioplastics since I was a teenager,
helping out at a number of trade fairs and conferences.
In a way, we both grew up with the topic of bioplastics.
After eleven years as a commercial photographer
in the publishing industry, I joined the bioplastics
MAGAZINE team in 2022 and have since been responsible
for the design and layout, as well as the digital
operation at our conferences.
In summary, the one-man-show Michael has
become the family team of bioplastics MAGAZINE over
the past years. So what would be more fitting than to
feature this team on the cover on this special occasion?