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Grafik (formerly Hot Graphics International, then Graphics International) has been a stalwart of the UK design scene since the 1980s. A more irreverent read than many other such magazines, it sadly closed last year… only to return this month with a brand new design, new structure and new business plan, as a bimonthly covering the global graphic design scene.
The Blogsplosion asked co-editor Angharad Lewis about what happened, what’s happening now, and what will happen next in the Grafik story.
Q: What do you get if you cross the internet and magazines?
A: Ivan Pope.
Pope is a former zinester who created the world’s first internet magazine, The World Wide Web Newsletter (later 3W Magazine), in 1993. He later went on to help launch the first consumer magazine about the web, .net, and also invented the cybercafé as part of an installation at the ICA in London.
He’s now turned his entrepreneurial zeal to creating Magazero, an online magazine store dedicated to “gathering the best, freshest, strangest, most inaccessible, juciest, loveliest independent magazines from around the world and bringing them into your life.”
Magtastic talked to him about the future of magazine selling, setting up a competitor to Stack, and the glory of the magazine ecosystem.
What made you want to set up an online magazine shop?
I’ve wanted to open a magazine shop for about fifteen years now. In the nineties, I had an internet business with an office in New York (domain names; I sort of invented that industry). I used to spend a lot of time there and one thing I loved were the magazine shops with floor to ceiling racks of every magazine you could imagine. I always thought it would be a great thing to open something similar in the UK.
“The idea was to find a solution to the problems plaguing the magazine industry”
To finish up my roundup of the launch of MYMAG (parts one, two and three), I’m delighted to offer a Blogsplosion magsclusive interview with its creator, Magnus Greaves, where he reveals how the idea began with ‘make your own’ magazines, explains how he’s trying to take the risk out of publishing, and tells us exactly what he looks for in a guest editor.
Suraya Sidhu Singh from Filament (pictured above, photo by Gerard Harvey) has written to The Blogsplosion about her magazine’s plight, explaining what happened and putting to bed (ahem) a few assumptions:
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Rather a lot to catch up on…
Wired UK launches today
The general view seems to be “better than expected, but good luck in this climate”. My friend and erstwhile colleague Hammersley puts it in his own inimitable style: “You might not like it, and that’s fine with us, but you will have to admit that it’s good. In any case, we’re not producing a mediocre magazine for the general reader. We’re making something great specifically for the Wired audience. As David Simon once said, ‘fuck the average viewer.’” (Disclaimer: I have a small piece in issue two). Speaking of tech…
Magazine to feature RFID chip
In fact, a Ztamp, to place on your Mir:ror. It’s from the makers of the rather cute “it’ll read your email while you’re sleeping” Nabaztag. I’d expect Spektacle to watch this intently, as it’s the kind of thing they’d do. What’s also interesting is the mag itself – I have the current issue of Amusement next to me now, that I’ve been meaning to review on here for yonks. It’s rather good. Speaking of video game magazines…
Edge celebrates 200th issue with 200 covers
All polywrapped in a bag with an image of issue one on it. See all the covers full size here
Little White Lies tries digital
Now non-UK viewers can enjoy its graphic monothemed loveliness
Conde Nast switches to digital flowers
Because physical objects are no longer symbolically important at CN Towers. Wait a minute, what’s the date on that piece again? While we’re on the subject…
As good an excuse as any to visit Sans Seriffe
There’s no Fool like an old Fool
The Folio 40 is unveiled
Worthwhile reading featuring movers, shakers, innovators and a blogger. Maybe next year
How Esquire tore strips off its cover stars
Compare with this month’s Flaunt (click here) who had a far lower-tech solution. That’s a real rip they’ve put in – each issue’s is slightly different, a rather brilliant way to both save money and still keep up their reputation for distinctive covers. I wonder if they perforated it slightly at the factory, or just had a line of rippers? And what did they do with all the bottom halves?
A new men’s “style bible” just launched
The preview pics look to me rather like the revived Man About Town with all the words cut out
Colophon interview with KasinoA4
“I bet our magazine would look a lot different if we were based in Miami”. Also reveals previously unnoticed nod to 1970s Playboy. Speaking of whom…
KasinoA4 releases wearable magazine rack
Is it just me, or is this “KasinoA4 X Designer” actually a subtle Monocle pisstake?
Last week’s Economist cover – explained
It made much more sense in the original. They’ve also started to release their magazine audibly – will Economist Radio follow?
Editor blames plagiarism on staff shortages
And thinking shortages
Why our books are the future of fashion photography
Which is nice. Goes on a bit though
And finally… some more Colophon links…
We love you too, Slanted
Patrick’s snaps
The official photographer
Stylink reports (kind of)
Stereo loves Karen
“I guess I started a magazine because I knew almost nothing about print.”
It may not sound like the best time to buy an entire magazine, but that’s just what Lothar Eckstein has done. Twice.
The founder and editor-in-chief of sleek magazine, in November he bought two of his favourite independent magazines, Qvest and Luna, from German company Mediakom, to create a stable of three fashion magazines under the umbrella of B20 Publishing.
He talked exclusively to the Blogsplosion, sharing tales of independence, economies of scale and the future of magazine advertising.
“Bottom line is, we didn’t handle it right. We took bad advice, and followed it.”
A quick summary: in July last year, a website called Mygazines launched. It allowed registered users to upload scans of any magazine, and then share them for free. Faster than you could say “copyright infringement”, the site had more than 130,000 registered users, and everything from The Economist to Time was being scanned and shared on the site.
