Founder · Creative Director · Other
It felt like the shop was new for ages, and suddenly we’re something else… not old, but established, maybe?
There’s not much money to be made in independent publishing, so rather than competing we all support one another.
The big publishers lost the plot and jumped too fast into digital.
People are tired of the algorithm, and as the enshitification of the internet continues, people will increasingly look elsewhere for better experiences and print will benefit from that.
We wanted the pages to reference the international nature of the stories, but avoid flags, maps, and other cliches.
What’s valuable about print? It offers more flexibility for bespoke design page by page; and leading from that, we humans take in and remember more from print than screen.
To mark magCulture’s tenth anniversary, founder Jeremy Leslie selects ten of the best designed magazines from the past decade and reflects on the evolution of independent publishing. The article explores the growth of the indie magazine scene, its collaborative spirit, and the enduring appeal of print in a digital age. It also highlights standout titles like MacGuffin, Civilization, and Ordinary as examples of design innovation and cultural relevance.
Magculture has collaborated with founder Charles Emmerson to design Translator, a new publication translating global journalism into English. The hybrid magazine-newspaper format, led by Jeremy Leslie and Osman Bari, uses LL Catalogue by Lineto and a richly considered layout to reflect linguistic diversity. The project celebrates print’s tactile and cognitive value in an increasingly digital, monolingual world.
The Brand Identity interviews Norwich-based designer Alice Daisy Pomfret about her editorial design practice, adp, and her journey from running a magazine shop to founding her own studio. She discusses her experiences working with major publications and cultural clients, her approach to research and sustainability, and her commitment to supporting independent publishing and local creative communities.