Aftenposten A-magasinet

A visual surprise Sparking expectations among readers

Strategy | Concept | Content | Art direction

Visual journalism for Norway's most-read magazine
For two years (2015-2017) Skilhagen was employed as the Creative Director for A-magasinet, being in charge of the visual language for close to 100 issues of the weekly publication. A-magasinet is a supplement to Norwegian newspapers Aftenposten, Fædrelandsvennen and Stavanger Aftenblad on Fridays, and holds the best content from feature and culture. 

Working with A-magasinet, the ambition was to create an expectation among readers that they would get something new in terms of journalistic angles and visual narrative techniques.

  • Photo: Stig B. Hansen. Illustration: Kristian Hammersta, byHands

  • Photo: Martin Slottemo Lyngstad, Paragon Features. Photo: Stig B. Hansen.

  • Photo: Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo/Singapore. Photo: Per Fronth.

  • Photo: Paal Audestad. Photo: Gleb Garanich

  • Photo: Josef Schulz. Photo: Herlinde Koelbl/Agentur Focus

  • Photo: Mark Cocksedge. Photo: Andreas Meischner

  • Photo: Anne Stine Johnsbråten. Photo: Johannes Worsøe Berg.

A network of collaborators 
In addition to Aftenposten's own staff of photographers, illustrators and designers, Skilhagen worked actively to find relevant and exciting visual communicators externally. This helped maintain visual variation throughout each issue.

Exquisite editorial illustration. Great, universally understandable ideas that capture the contemporary experience of loss and uncertainty with a simple and clear execution.

Visueltkonkurransen, Jon Arne Berg, cover and editorial illustration "Hva skjedde, USA?"

  • Photo: Peter van Agtmael

  • Photo: Alex Masi

  • Photo: Tine Sletting

  • Photo: Per-Anders Pettersson

  • Photo: Stig B. Hansen

  • Photo: Herlinde Koelbl

  • Photo: Herlinde Koelbl

  • Photo: Monica Strømdahl

  • Photo: Kaveh Rostamkhani

  • Photo: Martin Slottemo Lyngstad, Paragon Features

  • Photo: Anne Stine Johnsbråten

  • Photo: Maikel Samuels

  • Photo: Agung Parameswara

  • Photo: Andrea Gjestvang

  • Photo: Stig B. Hansen

  • Photo: Stig B. Hansen

  • Photo: Stig B. Hansen

In some cases, we purchased existing content externally. In most cases the magazine consisted of self-produced material.

  • Photo: Paal Audestad

  • Photo: Tor G. Stenersen

  • Photo: Stig B. Hansen

  • Photo: Tor G. Stenersen

  • Photo: Tor G. Stenersen

  • Photo: Helge Skodvin

  • Photo: Stig B. Hansen

  • Photo: Martin Slottemo Lyngsta, Paragon Features. Illustration: Kim Hiorthøy

  • Photo: Tom A. Kolstad

  • Photo: Signe Dons

  • Photo: Paal Audestad

  • Photo: Tor G. Stenersen

A conceptual approach 
Our approach to visual journalism was largely about treating the visual as an independent voice rather than repeating the textual content.

  • Photo: Ulf Lundin

  • Photo: Ulf Lundin

  • Photo: Line Ørnes Søndergaard

  • Photo: Line Ørnes Søndergaard

  • Photo: Stig B. Hansen. Illustration: Terje Tønnessen

  • Photo: Stig B. Hansen

  • Photo: Andreas Meischner

  • Photo: Josef Schulz

As part of the efforts to strengthen the visual positioning of A-magasinet, the use of illustrations also became an important factor. This created new contexts and new opportunities for good storytelling.

  • Illustration: Kristina Hammerstad, byHands

  • Illustration: Kristina Hammerstad, byHands

  • Illustration: Hanne Berkaak, byHands

  • Illustration: Terje Tønnessen

  • Illustration: Jon Arne Berg, byHands

  • Illustration: Kristina Hammerstad, byHands

  • Illustration: Kristina Hammerstad, byHands

  • Illustration: Golden Cosmos

  • Illustration: Lars Fiske

Thematic editions
During the employment period, Skilhagen was also Creative Director of the magazine’s five thematic editions, each relevant to current affairs: the US elections, the crisis in Syria, the terrorist attack in Paris, the United Nations Climate Change Conference and an issue about Norwegian design.

  • Illustration: Jon Arne Berg, byHands

  • Illustration: Jon Arne Berg, byHands

  • Photo: Martin Slottemo Lyngsta, Paragon Features

  • Photo: Martin Slottemo Lyngsta, Paragon Features

  • Photo: Martin Slottemo Lyngsta, Paragon Features

  • Photo: Martin Slottemo Lyngsta, Paragon Features

  • Photo: Anaïs Boileau

  • Photo: Pierre Gonnord

  • Photo: Martin Slottemo Lyngsta, Paragon Features

  • Photo: Anaïs Boileau

  • Photo: Anaïs Boileau

  • Photo: Andrea Bruce/NOOR Images

  • Photo: Magnus Hjalmarson Neideman

  • Photo: Knut Bry

  • Photo: Knut Bry

contact@skilhagen.com