Designers and editors pick their favourite magazine covers ahead of London Design Festival panel

A panel of editors, publishers, designers, historians and academics is set to discuss the evolving role of magazines at a one-day event during the forthcoming London Design Festival, according to a report by The Guardian.

Steve Watson, founder of the subscription magazine club Stack, said the industry needs "to rethink what a successful magazine looks like," arguing that comparing today's print titles to those of the 1960s is misguided given how much media consumption has changed since an era when many people did not yet own colour televisions.

"Print magazines are no longer the best way of reaching lots of people quickly and cheaply but they are still really great at engaging deeply with readers, providing an opportunity to slow down and absorb information," Watson said. "They provide us with an alternative way of seeing the world."

Despite widespread narratives of decline in the print industry, Watson said he remains optimistic about the medium's prospects. "The truth is there are brilliant new magazines launching all the time," he said.

Among the covers highlighted by contributors to the discussion are a portrait of the musician Lana Del Rey, described as timeless, and an alternative guide to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, cited as an example of a cover that offered a distinctive perspective on a major global event.

According to the report, panellists were asked to identify what makes a magazine cover successful, with responses touching on qualities such as the ability to "seduce" readers, alongside covers noted for being shocking or alluring.

Further details of the panel discussion, including additional cover selections and the full list of participants, were not specified in the available excerpt.