magazines

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Eventful gatherings

August 24, 2010 in Colophon, Death of print, Trend | No comments

When we started Colophon, it was soon after the closure of CMYK, a Barcelona-based magazine event that took place in 2004 and 2005.

Other independent magazine-based events and exhibitions (distinct from mainstream industry gatherings with paid-for booths in huge conference centres) have also cropped up, including this year’s OK Festival in the Netherlands, the Magazine Library in Japan, the ever-moving Kiosk and most recently, De Zines in Madrid, which closes this Sunday.

The more the merrier, we say. Such events are wonderful opportunities to discover new magazines, meet magazine makers and forge new collaborations. As we plan more Colophon events (suggestions still welcome here), and hear rumours of more magazine-focused excuses to get drunk invaluable industry events to come, I’m delighted to offer you the catalogue from De Zines as a PDF download, thanks to co-curators Roberto Vidal and Oscar Martín.

Filled with independent magazines and thoughtful reflections on publishing outside the mainstream, it’s a lovely document, and a taste of what those of us who haven’t been able get to De Zines have missed out on. (The first pages are in Spanish, but there’s a full English translation at the back.) The exhibit is about to close, but its spirit lives on in the fantastic magsite No.Zines, which I’m told is about to get the RSS feed it lacks. Felicidades, gentlemen. Hasta la próxima.

Click here, download the catalogue, and enjoy. (9.8mb, PDF)

Why everybody needs to calm down

March 26, 2010 in ipad, Opinion, technology, Trend | 12 comments

Yes, I am excited to see what the iPad will bring in terms of new ideas surrounding interactivity, storytelling and location-based media.

That’s because I’m a consumer. From a publishing perspective, however, here are five reasons why it’s best not to get too carried away by the pre-release hype.

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Almost live from a German airport newsstand

February 7, 2010 in Magazine covers, New launches, News round-up | 1 comment

Fewer updates this week as I’m out of town giving a talk here. However, one of the great things about European layovers in unexpected locations is the ability to kill time in a nearby Relay.

As I flew Lufthansa, I got a stop in Frankfurt. There were three Relays within about 500 feet of each other, all of which had a remarkable selection of magazines. It was good to see independents such as Kaiserin and S(nsfw) sitting alongside the usual fare. Here’s what else I spotted, and snapped with my iPhone:

Business magazine Brand Eins continues to stand out for its beautiful simplicity.

Sleek is doing something lovely with the page edges in their latest issue, themed ‘Food’. You can download it for free if you register here.

Swiss design mag idPure is always worth looking at. They’ve had a redesign of their cover since I last saw it. I like it a lot.

The first issue of Business Punk, the new G+J magazine that tries to meld economics and ladmags, was there. Lots of bright colours and shouty design about the most unexpected topics inside. However, I wasn’t able to find its stablemate, leaving me asking ‘Where’s the Beef?’

At least two charities have their own newsstand titles, both cleanly designed and filled with more content than just money-raising fayre.

And finally, a piece of honest explanation for the store’s top shelf. It was 6am, I was surrounded by wide-eyed people who, like me, had taken overnight flights, and yet I was in a happy place. Yes, I am a cheap date.

Interview: Magnus Greaves, founder of MYMAG

January 26, 2010 in Archives, Clever ideas, interview | 1 comment

“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.

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My new baby

October 20, 2009 in Clever ideas, Death of print, New launches, Personal promotion, USA | 1 comment

stackamerica-fckyeah

When I moved to the USA nearly 18 months ago, I was particularly looking forward to two aspects of local cultural education: uncovering great new magazines, and discovering what the heck a Smore was.

The second thing was, I have to say, a disappointment (Hershey’s being rather waxy for my taste buds), but the imagination and creativity I’ve discovered in magazines on this side of the Atlantic has been really rather fantastic. The question remained, however: what to do with this knowledge?

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Back issues available

August 14, 2009 in Personal promotion | No comments

ebaymags

I’ve been having something of a clearout, and as an experiment, I’ve decided to sell some duplicate issues of magazines in my archive on eBay. Take a look, do.

This week’s specials:

Latest issue of FOAM

The 30th Anniversary issue of New York

The Hospital Club members magazine

First edition of T-world

This year’s Pentagram Paper: Signs

Colophon book officially unveiled

March 3, 2009 in Colophon, New launches, Personal promotion | 1 comment

While the printer works his inky magic, Gestalten has officially been unveiled as the worldwide distributor of our forthcoming Colophon-accompanying book, We Make Magazines. And to celebrate, they’ve put some pages online.

Edited by your humble correspondent and designed by the one, the only Jeremy Leslie, It’s very different from We Love Magazines, but equally essential for magazine lovers. I would say that, wouldn’t I? Yes, I would, though the truth is that I’m rather proud of the thing. It’s very lovely, a fascinating and relevant read, filled with great imagery (and free to all Flash Pass holders at Colophon!)

More details over at Gestaltan’s website.

We’re hoping to organise a discussion panel on independent magazines in New York, to celebrate the book’s release over here in May/June. Any thoughts on where we should do it, though?

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