Creative Director Greg Monfries has a design aesthetic that can best be summed up with two words: sophisticated and approachable. “My philosophy is that design should be easy to understand at first glance,” he says. “I want readers to be able to flip through a magazine and know what they are going to get by the pull quotes, captions, images and sidebars. To me, paying attention to all of these elements is as important as the design of the opening spread itself.” Greg’s approach has been instrumental in keeping each of his clients vital and relevant in an ever-changing media landscape.
Greg, who has 20 years in the publishing industry, joined Time Inc. in 1996. He honed his skills as Deputy Design Director the PEOPLE and while there, he showcased his versatility and creativity by putting his stamp on many high-profile PEOPLE franchises, including Most Beautiful People, Sexiest Man Alive, People Country and People Hollywood Dailies. Greg also made invaluable contributions to additional brand extensions, from digital properties to books. “To me, good design is all about finding the perfect marriage between typography and art,” says Greg. “That’s the best way to tell a story.”
In 2009, Greg was elevated to Creative Director at Essence, the premier magazine for African American Women. In this position he headed the design, Art and Photo Departments and developed innovative and creative ways to reach the ESSENCE readership, and solidify the brand identity. While at ESSENCE, he directed the soft redesign of the magazine, introduced the wildly popular Hot Hair special issues, produced three covers featuring the president and first lady Obama and launched the tablet versions of the magazine. In 2010, Greg’s crisp approach to design led ESSENCE to become a finalist for an American Society of Magazine Editors General Excellence Award.