The designer of the year category is famously hard to judge. Not only because design relies on elements of personal taste, but also because the judges (often designers themselves) are so impassioned by the great influence design has on magazine media.

This was the story of deliberation day of the PPA Awards 2021 in the Designer of the Year category. With 16 talented designers to choose from across consumer and B2B publications – it was going to be difficult to choose just one person to reign over the designer of the year title. But, then there was discussion over Peter Allen’s entry. Working for the luxury car mag Magneto, his brightly coloured, retro feeling covers got the attention of all the judges.

“I've always liked sort of mid-century modernist design. I'm a real big fan of the magazines that were around in the 60s. That's when the role of an art director was first cut out”. Perhaps it is this influence, simultaneously bold and forward-thinking, with a feel of nostalgia that is informed by one of the most iconic periods in design history, that gives his work a universal appeal. One judge described his pages for Magneto as a “feast for the eyeball.”

Having already won Designer of the Year in the PPA Independent Publisher Awards, we asked Peter why a PPA Award is an important accolade for him. He said: “The PPA has always been seen as the pinnacle of celebrating editorial achievements – the Oscars for magazines in the UK, especially in my field, design.”

So, as a two-time winner of the Designer of the Year Award – what is the trick to a winning entry? “I think drawing on the success of the magazine and how the design contributed to that.” Indeed, Magneto is a publication defined by its bold design, adding a value proposition to the product. “Design is part of the business plan – it pushes that to a very high status. And the editorial proposition is a very indulgent product.” This makes Allen’s work as a designer free form and truly creative as the lack of boundaries by the publication means a fresh look is always welcome.

“For instance, we can have a feature that doesn't have any body copy on for the first 10 pages next to a feature where there's 6000 words and hardly any pictures. It really pushes the contrast and extremities of what magazine design can do.”

But of course, like most magazines – independent and even big budget, there are always constraints. Our judges made particular mention of Peter’s ability to overcome problems and deliver fantastic imagery. As the cars photographed are often from top security collections, often the imagery can be compromised, but Peter has become known for his ability to overcome such obstacles. “Sometimes we have just had to just use some striking designs, some striking typography to achieve that premium feel.”

Every aspect of Peter’s work speaks to his deep knowledge of the special interest car community that reads Magneto. This makes his universal praise from the judges even more impressive. When discussing cover design submitted with his entry, he said: “Covers can be idea driven, they can be quite knowing. We like the idea that only some of the real car nerds are going to get it.”

What’s clear is that passion, a genuine love for your craft, and publication is what makes a winning entry. That alongside numbers that back up the importance of the role of the designer in the sales of the magazine. Design continues to be at the centre of magazine media, attracting readers and making them feel like they’re part of a cool club, and it’s innovators and enthusiasts like Peter that keep them buying magazines.