In September 1990, AGMAzine introduced what editors described as a new look and new scope for the magazine, meant to be livelier and more informative. The issue marked one of the most noticeable visual shifts in the history of AGMAzine and signaled an effort to move the Union’s publication closer to a true magazine format.
In the September 1990 issue, color (red, to be exact) appears throughout the pages in the form of bars and section dividers, giving the publication a new visual structure that helped organize the content more clearly.
The changes did not transform the publication overnight. Many elements of the earlier format remain, and photographs would continue to be printed in black and white until the Union’s 75th year in 2011. But, with these tiny changes, AGMAzine began to feel more like a magazine documenting the work and lives of AGMA members!
Looking back at issues from just months earlier, the transition is obvious. The magazine’s issues prior to September 1990 still read like a newspaper or bulletin. Pages are filled with dense columns of text, stories flow into one another with minimal visual separation, and photographs appear sparingly. The layout prioritizes information delivery, but there is little visual hierarchy to guide the reader through the publication.
The issue also reflects a broader editorial shift. Alongside AGMA updates and institutional news, there is a greater emphasis on human interest stories and photographs that highlight the artists themselves.
Seen from today’s perspective, this redesign marks an important step toward the AGMAzine readers know today. It reflects a moment when the Union began to rethink not only what it communicated to members, but how those stories could be presented in a more engaging and accessible way.
You can explore both the earlier formats and the redesigned issue in the AGMAzine Archives on AGMA’s website.