Communication Arts

This article is about a specific trade publication. For generic uses of the term, see Communication art.

'Communication Arts'
FrequencyBi-monthly
FormatMagazine
Website
Circulation21,000
PublisherPatrick Coyne
FounderRichard Coyne
Robert Blanchard
Founded1959
First issueAugust 1959
CompanyCoyne & Blanchard, Inc.
CountryUnited States of America
Based inMenlo Park, California
LanguageEnglish
Websitecommarts.com
ISSN0010-3519

Communication Arts (acronym: CA) is the largest international trade journal of visual communication. Founded in 1959 by Richard Coyne and Robert Blanchard, the magazine's coverage includes graphic design, advertising, photography, illustration, typography and interactive media. The magazine continues to be edited and published under the guidance of Coyne's son Patrick Coyne. Currently, Communication Arts publishes six issues a year and hosts six creative competitions in graphic design, advertising, photography, illustration, typography and interactive media and two websites, commarts.com and creativehotlist.com.

History

The magazine was established in 1959. The first issue debuted in August 1959 as the Journal of Commercial Art.[1] Among a number of innovations, it was the first U.S. magazine printed by offset lithography.[2]

After Blanchard left to go into business by himself, Coyne, along with his wife Jean and a small staff, continued to write, design, and produce the magazine. Eventually, paid circulation increased to 38,000.[citation needed]

As of 2021, CA's paid circulation was about 21,000,[3] down from 59,429 in 2009.[4]

Competitions

To generate additional income and editorial content, the magazine began an annual juried competition in 1960. Within a few years, the annual competition grew, and eventually segmented into four annual competitions: graphic design, advertising, photography, and illustration. A fifth competition, interactive, was added in 1995 and since early 2011, CA also introduces a typography competition. All the Communication Arts competitions are juried by creative professionals. The judges hand out awards based on creativity and not ROI.[5]

Websites

CA was the first major design publication to launch a web presence in 1995.[6] In addition to showcasing creative work in visual communications, it included job listings. The jobs section grew, and was relaunched in 2001 as a standalone website, Creative Hotlist.[7] These two websites receive approximately three million page views and 250,000 unique visitors per month.[8]

References

  1. ^ The Journal of Commercial Art, Vol. 1, No. 1, August 1959, Palo Alto, California
  2. ^ "Yesterday in CA", Communication Arts, Vol. 31, No. 2
  3. ^ Media Kit 2021
  4. ^ Media info Archived July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Fragkogiannis, Filippos (October 17, 2022). "Communication Arts 2023 Award of Excellence (Typography)". Filippos Fragkogiannis. Archived from the original on October 5, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  6. ^ http://www.audreylynn.net/MIPA/MIPA_Resources.html Archived March 31, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Job Search | Creative Talent". Creative Hotlist. Communication Arts. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  8. ^ "Communication Arts Media Kit | Website". Archived from the original on December 17, 2008. Retrieved October 23, 2008.