Zembla Magazine issue 1 - words, pictures and graphic design gorgeousness

Since the early 2000s there's been an explosion in high quality independent magazines. These are often lovingly crafted, hugely indulgent, hyper focussed niche offerings. Not aimed at mass distribution or high ROI and usually not the most successful business models. One of these magazines that appeared briefly (only 8 issues) on the mainstream newsagents' shelves was Zembla. It positioned itself as a literary magazine, with words fundamentally at it's core. Designed by Vince Frost, it's was a wonderful playground for typographic ideas, letter play and bold graphic design. It's not the grunge and dirt from the '90s but rather a rediscovery of type and the printed form. 

Here's issue 1 from September 2003, with the rather special Tilda Swinton on the cover.

Vintage I-D Magazines (1981, 1983, 1984, 1985)

Rediscovered some old issues of I-D Magazine. They range from issue 5 (1981) to issue 28 (1985) and cover the mag's early progression from fanzine to fashion mag. First up is issue 5 aka the Lady Di issue. A spectacularly good typographic pun for the cover by 'Malcom "hot rod" Garr-art' (Malcolm Garrett), although I've also seen Linder Sterling credited.  

I-D Magazine Issue No.5 Do-it-yourself Manual of Style (aka the Lady Di issue)

I-D Magazine Issue No.5 Do-it-yourself Manual of Style (aka the Lady Di issue)

Here's the back cover with the 'cut out and keep' Lady Di parts.

Here's the back cover with the 'cut out and keep' Lady Di parts.

By 1983 the magazine had been going for 3 years and issue 13 in March was the '3rd Anniversary Issue' or the Wet 'n' Wild issue. By then the magazine was beginning to change, it's still under the editorship of Terry Jones but you can see now the have a little more cash - they get bigger ads and colour!

By the time we get to issue 18 in September 1984, it's a fashion mag. No longer using the landscape format or the fanzine style production and cut-up design, it's the real deal. That's not to say it doesn't retain it's edginess or integrity, it's still challenging and has plenty of the punk attitude it started with.

And here are some of the ads. At the time I-D demanded that your ad 'worked' for their magazine. So even fairly straight brands did some pretty cool work.

 

And finally for those top-knot wearing hipsters who think they are so cool and so original, here's a little reminder that your dad beat you to it.