Nova 1965-1975

A reissue of a cult design book about Nova, the groundbreaking British magazine of the 60s and 70s. A reissue of a cult design book, Nova 1965-1975 celebrates one of the most influential magazines in history. Known as ‘the thinking woman’s magazine’ Nova was a British publication that set itself apart from its contemporaries by creating a magazine that was not just about fashion but was also politically, socially and sexually aware. The magazine covered issues that were controversial at the time, such as abortion, lesbianism and The Pill, and featured writers such as Susan Sontag, Christopher Booker and Germaine Greer.

The book is compiled by David Hillman and Harri Pecconotti, who worked as Deputy Editor and Art Director on the magazine. The design and layout of the magazine were as groundbreaking as the content, and borrowed ideas from the psychedelic subculture and underground press of the day. Nova was one of the first magazines to include black models in their photoshoots, and regular photographers for the magazine included Helmut Newton and Don McCullin.

The book selects the very best covers and articles from the magazine’s decade long output and looks at them in detail, featuring many of the iconic magazine covers.

Author Biography

David Hillman is one of Britain’s leading graphic designers, responsible for the iconic redesign of The Guardian in the 1980s and of Phaidon’s identity, among many others. He has been awarded two prestigious gold and 16 silver awards from D&AD. He is a Royal Designer for Industry and Senior Fellow of the Royal College of Art. Hillman joined Nova as Art Director in 1968 and became Deputy Editor in 1970. Harri Peccinotti is an English photographer best known for his boldly graphic, erotic photographs. He photographed the influential Pirelli calendar in 1968. He was an Art Director at Nova and was hugely influential on the magazine’s graphic design as well as the photography.