The Food Issue

A.J. Liebling once said, "The primary requisite for writing well about food is a good appetite." For this year's Food Issue, we tapped the appetites of chefs, novelists, New Yorker writers, and—for one chaotic photo shoot—a group of hungry babies. For the issue, I art directed a visual feast that celebrates the intersection of cuisine and culture. Hudson Christie's playful cover reimagines New York City as a charcuterie board, with The New Yorker’s logo transformed into a produce sticker, reminiscent of those found in local bodegas. I oversaw the cover, design, visual strategy, and cross-platform promotion.

Graphic compositions and kinetic motion bring the issue’s gastronomic adventures to life, from Milo Target's playful animation reimagining the next generation of bagels (decked out in chunky Gen-Z sneakers) to Jonathan Djob Nkondo’s depiction of a fruitless attempt to secure a reservation at one of the city's hottest restaurants.

I designed several components for the different types of content featured on the page, with feature stories presented like courses on a menu. Drawing inspiration from “best by date” stickers you would find on produce, the scheduling system teases the release of future stories.

Digital design and direction for a photo essay about baby led weaning for The New Yorker’s digital food issue. Photo editing by Andrew Katz, Lance Han, and Joanna Milter.

Digital design and direction for a photo essay about The New Yorker staff’s favorite recipes. Photo editing by Noelle Flores Théard and Joanna Milter.

Digital direction, curation, and design for visual stories across platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

After reading a dual book review exploring the histories of fasting and eating disorders, a concept immediately came to mind: a still life of a meal with empty ceramic plates bearing the indentations of food. The idea was beautifully executed by 3D artist Sean Dong.

Giacomo Bagnara illustrated a series of essay from Chef’s about their favorite secret ingredients.