Kobe Bryant Soars to the Heavens on Cover of Los Angeles Magazine

As Kobe Bryant’s adopted city mourns his death with an elaborate memorial at the Staples Center this afternoon, Los Angeles Magazine also unveiled its March issue today—featuring a lovely tribute to the basketball legend on its cover.

Magazine covers remain a powerful vehicle for honoring those who suffer tragic deaths—Time magazine put Bryant on a commemorative cover as well—and this one is beautifully simple in its design. It was ideated and art directed by independent New York agency Walrus, who has been collaborating with Los Angeles Magazine on covers and editorial imagery since late last year.

“We wanted to use a lot more negative space than usual on this one, given the gravity of the subject,” says Walrus chief creative officer Deacon Webster. “The idea was to feature a vast negative void cut by a bright pop of yellow and Kobe soaring up into the heavens. There’s no copy at all on the cover, just the Los Angeles logo. Los Angeles editor Maer Roshan and creative director Ada Guerin rightly felt that the image alone said all that needed to be said.”

The cover is part of a special editorial package honoring Bryant, who died Jan. 26 in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif.