Dirk Barnett has been named creative director at Maxim.

Barnett had been in the same role at sister pub Blender until Alpha Media Group shuttered the music magazine in March.

While at Blender, Barnett led a redesign of the pub that has been nominated for a "Redesign of the Year" award by the Society of Publication Designers.

Maxim editor-in-chief Joe Levy, who moved over from the EIC spot at Blender when the plug was pulled last month, said in the release, "I am thrilled and privileged to be able to continue to work with him at Maxim."

Full release following the jump.

Dirk Barnett Named Creative Director at MAXIM

New York, NY, April 29, 2009 - Dirk Barnett has been named Creative Director at Maxim magazine, it was announced today. Barnett joins Maxim from Blender, where he instituted a redesign of the music magazine which has been nominated by the Society of Publication Designers as a finalist in the category for redesign of the year, one of Blender's 5 SPD medal nominations this year. (Awards will be announced on May 8.) Previously, Barnett worked for The New York Times Magazines Key and Play spin-offs, where he oversaw art direction and design including the original design for Key, the first real-estate publication for The New York Times.
Joe Levy, Editor in Chief of Maxim said, "Dirk is a source of endless creativity, enthusiasm and smarts. I am thrilled and privileged to be able to continue to work with him at Maxim."
Barnett has worked for Premiere, Popular Science, Worth, and Travel and Leisure Golf magazines. Throughout his career, the Society of Publication Designers has recognized Barnett's work with 9 medals and 93 merits. His other industry acknowledgements include the Type Director's Club, the New York Art Directors Club, and his work is in the permanent design archive of the American Institute of Graphic Arts.
Maxim is published by Alpha Media Group Inc., a branded entertainment company that includes Maxim, Maxim Digital, Moving Pictures DPI and more. Maxim is the largest young men's lifestyle magazine in America reaching more than 13 million readers each month. Maxim Digital encompasses Maxim.com, Blender.com and Stuffmagazine.com and reaches more than 3 million unique visitors each month. Maxim is published in 43 countries; Maxim Radio with Covino and Rich is broadcast on Sirius XM Satellite radio.
Alpha Media Group Inc. is owned by Quadrangle Capital Partners II LP, a private equity fund focused on the media and communications industries.