about

Jaap Biemans is a design studio based in Amsterdam. I enjoy all kinds of projects. Currently i’m art-directing Volkskrant Magazine and designing everything from postal stamps, books, and all stuff for digital platforms. Graduated in ’98 from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design St. Joost, Breda.

Enjoyed working for titles as Volkskrant, GQ, Hollands Diep, PostNL, Hard Gras, Intermediair, Villa Media, Uitkrant and Nieuwe Revu

Also curated and organized an exhibition about art & magazine covers at gallery Made van Krimpen (Amsterdam). Curated a collection art prints for Room50 (London) in cooperation with  Coverjunkie Gallery. Launched coverjunkie.com in 2010 and published The Coverjunkie Magazine. This is a side project that i started to champion creativity in mag design. Its all about fun and celebrating creativity.

My work is recognized with SPD Awards, D&AD pencils, ADC Cube, Prix de C’oeuvre’s, ADCN lamps and choosen as artdirector of the year 2017 by the Mercurs, Amsterdam. Received the Mercur d’Or for entire oeuvre of my designs and contributions to the publishing world.

Here my complete cv (Linkedin) & email: mail (at) jaapbiemans.nl

exhibition/talks/judging

december 2023:
Curated a collection art prints for Room50 in cooperation with the Coverjunkie Gallery, read here on CreativeBoom

summer 2023:
Organizing and curating an exhibition about art & magazine covers. Right in the heart of Amsterdam at gallery Made van Krimpen.

“The Originals is an exhibition about the power of magazine cover art. By showcasing the original art pieces alongside their corresponding magazines providing a special glimpse into the dynamic relationship between art and media. This exhibition showcases the transformative impact of art in magazines that influences our cultural consciousness. Presented in partnership with Coverjunkie. Today, Coverjunkie will open its archive and display a curated selection of magazine covers to accompany Madé van Krimpen’s “The Originals”, featuring captivating original works created by artists, including Jack Davison, Beni Bischof, Kwesi Botchway, Carlotta Guerrero, Katrien de Blauwer, and Duran Lantink.”

Read here the review in Parool newspaper.
Read here at MagCulture
Read here at Stack Magazines
Amsterdam, Netherlands

2022:
AGI talk.
What an evening with AGI Graphic. Giving a talk in front of the best designers of the Netherlands was a fun experience. Thanks for the invite AGI, Toko Design (Michael Lugmayer, Eva Dijkstra) and Alvin Chan (ACsuperlarge).
Netherlands

2021:
judging SPD Awards
New York

2020:
(Dutch) Speaking at Mag Inspiration Day. Programmed with Christoph Amend (Zeit Magazin) and Jeremy Leslie (Magculture)
Amsterdam

2019:
(Dutch) Invited for “Dutch Masters”, cultural event at Pakhuis de Zwijger about the power of images, cover designs & coverjunkie

Here the Youtube channel of this cultural event, first 30 min is missing
Amsterdam, February 2019

2019:
(English) Talk about cover design, creativity and social awareness at ADCN creativity festival
Amsterdam, September 2019

2018:
1 hour live interview Kunststof Radio (national broadcast) about artdirection, cover design and designing postal stamps
Amsterdam, NPO1

2018:
Judging Stack Awards together with Steven Heller
Independent magazines
London, UK

2017:
judging ADCN Awards
Amsterdam, Netherlands

2016:
Judging Stack Awards
Independent magazines
London, UK

2016:
Talk at QVED
Editorial Design Conference
Munich, Germany

2016:
Talk at Fachhochschule Salzburg
Cover Secrets
Salzburg, Austria

2016:
judging ADCN Awards
Amsterdam, Netherlands

2015:
Talk at Persgroep Campus
Inspirational cover design
Amsterdam, Netherlands

2015:
Talk at WeekbladPers
Inspiration week editorial design
Amsterdam, Netherlands

2015:
Talk at QVED
Editorial Design Conference
Munich, Germany

2014:
Judging D&AD Awards,
London, UK

2014:
Talk Design Bridge | At the Bar
Amsterdam, Netherlands

2014:
Judging SO Photography Awards
Amsterdam, Netherlands

2013:
Talk at SND (Society Newspaper Design)
Louisville, Kentucky, USA 

2012:
Judging SPD Awards,
New York, USA

2012:
Speaking at Facing Pages, editorial design festival
Arnhem, Netherlands

awards

2024:
GOLD medal at SPD 59, New York
best photographic cover, photography Erwin Olaf
Volkskrant Magazine
New York, USA

2024:
3 nominations medal finalists at SPD 59, New York
– best typography cover
– best photographic cover
– best designed cover
Volkskrant Magazine
New York, USA

2023:
Silver Award at SPD 58, New York
– best News/Documentary cover, Volkskrant Magazine
New York, USA

2023:
Nomination in the (big) category “Best Designed Cover” at SPD 58, New York, here the designed cover, Volkskrant Magazine
New York, USA

2023:
Our summer issue Volkskrant Magazine won silver at SND for design entire issue. Category “Overall Design Magazines”
Judges: “I like that they ‘re not afraid to experiment with style and color, but yet, it remains cohesive. It’s exiting and a surprising delight.”
(Here the cover)
New York, June 2023

2022:
Silver Cube at ADC, New York
– Cover designs 2021/2022 , Volkskrant Magazine
New York, USA

2021:
Silver Award at SPD 56, New York
– best typographic cover, Volkskrant Magazine
New York, USA

2021:
Volkskrant choosen as Best Designed Newspaper of the World
by SND

2020:
D&AD Pencil
Volkskrant Magazine winning graphite pencil with this cover design about dick pics.
London, UK

2020:
Two Merit Awards at SPD 55, New York
– 1 for best designed cover about dickpics
– 1 for best illustrated cover
New York, USA

2019:
Awarded Mercur d’Or, lifetime achievement award;
Awarded for complete oeuvre in design and contribution to the magazine world, read here an interview in Villa Media (Dutch)
Or download the PDF here
Amsterdam, Netherlands

2019:
Evaluation report (in Dutch) Awarded Mercur d’Or, lifetime achievement award;
Awarded for complete oeuvre in design
Amsterdam, Netherlands

2019:
Gold Medal “Best Designed Section” at SPD 54, New York
Excitement and humble; winning GOLD for best designed magazine section;
concerns the content pages from just redesigned Volkskrant Magazine
New York, USA

2019:
Three Merit Awards at SPD 54, New York
– 2 for best designed cover:
here the one design by me and Anna Kiosse and these 10 split-run covers designed by legends
– 1 for best illustrated cover
New York, USA

2018:
Cover Of The Year 2018, Mercur
– this amazing project, working with all those legends and talent was awarded as Cover Of The Year 2018
Amsterdam, Netherlands

2018:
ADCN silver Lamp
– editorial design Volkskrant Magazine
Amsterdam, Netherlands

2018:
Two Merit Awards at SPD 53
– Best design cover
– Best photography cover
New York, USA

2017:
Four Merit Awards at SPD 52
– Best Design Cover
– Design entire issue
– Best illustrated cover
– Best illustrated cover
New York, USA

2016:
choosen as Art Director of the Year
Mercurs
Jury: “Strong category but the winner was a quick decision: Volkskrant Magazine. Artdirector Jaap Biemans is crossing all barriers, he is not making it easy for himself. What he creates is situated above all levels. The undisputed thought leader of his profession”.
Amsterdam, Netherlands

2016:
Silver SPD 51
best Illustrated Cover
Volkskrant Magazine
New York, USA

2016:
Two silver ADCN Awards,
– Art-Direction Volkskrant Magazine
– Graphic Design Volkskrant Magazine
Amsterdam

2015:
Silver at SPD 50
silver award Best News Cover
Volkskrant Magazine
New York, USA

2015:
medal finalist SPD 50:
Cover of the Year
Volkskrant Magazine
New York, USA
(unbelievable nomination together with Wired, New York Mag, New York Times Mag & Variety)

2015:
Merit award SPD 50
Merit Award best illustrated
cover Volkskrant Magazine
New York, USA

2015:
Merit award SPD 50
Merit Award best photographed
cover Volkskrant Magazine
New York, USA

2014:
D&AD Pencil
Volkskrant Magazine cover designs 2013.
London, UK

2014:
winning Prix de C’Oeuvre
entire catalog Volkskrant Magazine cover designs between 2012 – 2014
Utrecht, Netherlands
Jury: “Volkskrant Magazine is a present, week in week out. A greater contrast between the tight format of the newspaper and the cover of the weekly magazine is not conceivable. Your chosen image language is often so strong that texts obsolete. The ideas are good and they work with top talent. The magazine is inspired by many international trendsetting cover makers and is therefore representative become for an international style. The jury rewards Volkskrant Magazine therefore with the Prix de C’Oeuvre 2014. “

2014:
Merit award SPD 49
Merit Award
cover Volkskrant Magazine
New York, USA

2013:
European Newspaper Award
Volkskrant best designed newspaper

2013:
Merit award SPD 48 
Merit Award
cover Volkskrant Magazine
New York, USA

2013:
Merit award SPD 48 
Merit Award Best photo
cover Volkskrant Magazine
New York, USA

2012:
Prix de C’Oeuvre 
for complete catalog cover designs Intermediair magazine 2003-2011
Utrecht, Netherlands

2012:
Silver SPD 47 award
silver for design entire issue
The Coverjunkie Magazine
New York, USA

2011:
Mercur award Best Cover of the Year
Vrij Nederland magazine
Amsterdam, Netherlands

2010:
MediaFacts Best Cover of the Year
cover Intermediair Magazine
overall category

2009:
MediaFacts Best Cover of the Year 
cover Intermediair magazine
overall category

2009:
Mercur nomination
nomination Hollands Diep magazine
best feature design

2009:
Mercur nomination
Hollands Diep magazine
nomination Magazine of the Year

2008:
winning peoples cover choice award
MediaFacts
cover Intermediair magazine
overall category.

2008:
MediaFacts Best Cover of the Year
cover Intermediair magazine
category business mags

2006:
LOF-award ;
Intermediair magazine 
business magazines

2005:
Nomination MediaFacts
Best Cover of the Year
cover Intermediair magazine
overall category