RUTH ANSEL

I was one day walking down the streets of New York City when I stumbled across a magazine convenience store and it certainly catched my attention of the amount of genres and eras this place had to offer. Ruth Ansel (born 1938) was just 24 years old when she became the co-art director, with Bea Feitler, of Harper’s Bazaar in the ’60s. In the ’70s she was art director of The New York Times Magazine, and in the ’80s she was art director of Vanity Fair. In each magazine, it was the first time a woman held the top title in the art department. Ansel started a movement where other magazine designers caught inspiration from and looked into creating work that seemed like Ansel’s work but this has opened a door for designers to explore, and experiment in the world of design.

Ansel is responsible for some of the most daring issues to ever be published. For the April 1965 issue, guest-edited by Richard Avedon, Jean Shrimpton appears on the cover in a shocking-pink paper cutout space helmet accented with a lenticular winking eye. Inside are layouts featuring Jean Shrimpton in a real NASA spacesuit over a comic book galactic background, a baby-faced Paul McCartney in the spacesuit (minus helmet) and a full-spread photo of Shrimpton dancing, printed in silver metallic ink. 

One last thing that was interesting in Ansel’s career was when she made something new and original. In February 1965 Bazaar cover featuring Steve McQueen’s grinning face being felt by an elegant female arm piled with jeweled bangles. This was the first time in a Women’s Magazine cover that a man appeared on has been widely imitated ever since, again a beginning to a movement that Ansel started. 

Print this page