Minneapolis, March 24, 2005 – Minnesota Monthly magazine is pleased to announce that Brian Johnson, Art Director, has been named a Merit Winner in the 40th annual national competition sponsored by the Society of Publication Designers. His award-winning design for “Hellboy,” a profile of Hell’s Kitchen owner Mitch Omer, was featured in the November 2004 issue.

The Society of Publication Designers encourages artistic excellence and annually judges the work of design professionals in the United States and abroad. Over 7,000 entries were judged by 66 of the leading publication design professionals and 600 Merit Awards were given. Johnson’s “Hellboy” will be displayed in the Society of Publication Designers forthcoming 40th Design Annual, showcased at an Awards Gala in New York City and on exhibition at the Parsons School of Design in New York followed by a show at the Graphic Arts Institute of Denmark in Copenhagen. Johnson is a graduate of Bemidji High School and received an advertising degree from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

Minnesota Monthly Publications, Inc. publishes Minnesota Monthly, Midwest Home and Garden, Twin Cities Taste and multiple custom publications. In addition to the publishing segment of its business, MMP Inc. has an events division that facilitates signature events including the Twin Cities Food and Wine Experience and the Midwest Home and Garden Luxury Home Tour.