The Boston Globe Magazine’s 2024 “Top Places to Work” issue spotlights 175 standout Massachusetts employers, as rated by nearly 68,000 employees across the state. This edition not only ranks companies by size—from small to largest—but also delves into timely workplace themes, including the integration of Gen Z employees, the value of older workers, and innovative approaches to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Past covers leaned on generic photography, but for 2024, the Globe wanted something smarter and punchier—an illustrated cover with personality.
For the cover I explored two sketch directions—one highlighting the reward theme with an office worker atop a vintage varsity trophy, and the other capturing a slice-of-life scene of workers mid-commute.
I leaned into a drippy, vintage trophy room vibe for the lead, filling the case with "awards" themed around DEI, Gen Z, phone use, and older workers.
Pushing the trophy case concept further, I made ascending spot illustrations for each Top Employer category, using symbols from each winner’s industry.