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Kim Larson

We’re told not to judge a book (or magazine) by its cover, but we all know that a good cover can be enough to entice passers-by to pick up an issue. If the look of the magazine beyond the cover is equally compelling, you may just earn a reader for life. This is especially true when that cover and design are in the hands of a visionary professional like Kim Larson, whose decades of experience in art direction have profoundly shaped magazines in Alberta and beyond.

Larson’s career has been based in Edmonton, working with some of the city and province’s most iconic titles. Her artistic point of view was instrumental in the long-running success of Alberta Venture and Alberta Oil magazines. She worked as the art director at those magazines for over a decade, simultaneously adding her magic touch to the esteemed Eighteen Bridges. Since 2017 Larson has served as the art director at Avenue Edmonton/Edify magazine at Odvod Media Corp, where she now serves as creative director. No matter the title she’s working with, Larson lends her considerable creative talent and ability to collaborate with colleagues towards amplifying each issue’s storytelling with unexpected photos and graphics that work in harmony with the text.

When Avenue Edmonton rebranded to Edify in 2020, Larson was instrumental in ushering a reimagined visual language to define the magazine’s new era. Her strikingly work on that substantial identity shift helped Edify to earn AMPA’s Magazine of the Year distinction with only three issues under its belt.

Editors and photographers who have worked with Larson say she has a unique ability to see written articles from new angles, pushing herself and the other visual professionals she works with to create unexpected images that bring additional life to the written word. She gives photographers and illustrators room to explore the possibilities of their own creativity, while being sure to support and meaningfully engage with everyone involved. The result is design that doesn’t just complement each magazine’s stories, but helps readers develop a more profound and nuanced understanding of each subject.

The Achievement in Publishing Award is just the latest feather in Larson’s cap. She is a multiple AMPA award winner for her work over the years and is a highly respected figure in Alberta’s magazine industry. Despite so many years of success, Larson does not take her accolades for granted and continues to evolve her visual language to keep her work not just relevant, but forward thinking. Her colleagues commend her for not following trends, but for interpreting them through her own lens and incredibly high personal standards.

Larson is also dedicated to advocacy and giving back to the industry. She has generously lent her expertise to AMPA, serving as an awards judge and as a long-standing member of the board of directors. She is also seen as a valuable mentor within the industry, helping junior and intermediate design staff to find their own visual voices in their magazine design work.