My first project 36 years ago was published in House Beautiful and I have had the privilege since then to work with most of the top interior design magazines and their editors. Some of these publications still exist, others have come and gone, but the one thing that has been a constant amongst all the successful ones is their integrity and how they manage to stay true to their brand. What many of you may not know is that there is a split between editorial and advertising that is similar to the split between church and state. Editorial will never be influenced by advertising as that would seriously hamper the integrity of the magazine and maintaining a high integrity is the holy grail to all editors-in-chief.
In my post yesterday I wanted to express my sadness at the demise of another publication with such integrity. I also feel frustrated at the amount of publications that are still around. Every single designer out there dreams of being published in a magazine, but very few of us are lucky enough to have that opportunity. When the number of high quality outlets dwindle down to only five, even fewer of the really talented designers have the chance of being featured, because, let’s face it, there are only so many pages per magazine.
I agree with those readers who have commented on the post below about how the richness of picking up a magazine and leafing through the pages will never disappear. How it looks and how you can pass it around the room and show to different people cannot happen on a computer screen. All the pages, whether modern or mid-range or traditional have a richness because of paper, printing and it makes a designer’s work really shine.
While I cling to my love for magazines and the experience of reading one, I hope that there is an opportunity in our future that will allow all designers to have the exposure they need in order to get new business and build up a hefty ‘look book’ to showcase their work.
#1 by judith Thibaut Interiors on November 11, 2009 - 12:23 pm
Beautifully put, Vicente.
I find that each issue which continues to arrive in my mail has taken on a special meaning, because I fear that they are becoming a vanishing breed. The shelf which holds the issues featuring my own work ( though certainly not nearly as vast as yours!) … . has also become much more appreciated.
In the bigger picture of lost homes & jobs, these are small , but significant , indicators of the very changed world we inhabit.
Judith
#2 by Visual Vamp on November 11, 2009 - 12:30 pm
Sometimes it feels like we are headed toward Fahrenheit 451.
Thanks for posting so eloquently.
I hope you are feeling much better.
xo xo
#3 by m elissa lee on November 11, 2009 - 2:05 pm
Dear Vicente,
It is understandable that you are grieving over the loss of another outlet to showcase your talent and others in the industry.
I will drop every thing I am doing an read my magazines as soon as they hit my box….
That my dear is one of my great pleasures in life so, I too, feel the disappointment!!!
xxoo
Melissa Lee (Lamy, NM)
#4 by Alice on November 12, 2009 - 12:58 pm
I hope so. It is important for so many. The opportunities for the designers, editors, writers, advertisers, so many whose work and art depends on them. There is also another group who depends heavily upon them. That is those who will never be able to afford a designer or top quality furniture, but can use the magazines, blogs and books to use lesser things to make a cohesive look, and a beautiful home out of whatever we have.
#5 by Ruth Staalsen on November 13, 2009 - 3:47 pm
I’m about to leave on vacation and one of the pleasure I enjoy is sitting on the airplane reading every article and scouring every picture in all of my Home magazines that I receive. It’s a great loss that there are so few out there right now. A magazine subscription is one of my most favorite gifts to give and to receive because it’s a gift that keeps giving.
#6 by francine Gardner on November 13, 2009 - 6:11 pm
I so agree with you. I actually just posted on the sadness I fell when I received Donna’s note regarding the closing of Met Home. One of my project was just phoyographed last week by Linda O’Keeffe and Antoine Bootz for spring publication in MetHome…Little did we know then, The same happened to me with House anf Gardens. Why is it that french magazine are still doing well and US magazine cannot survuve this recession…
#7 by scone on November 13, 2009 - 8:48 pm
I’m sorry about Met Home, but not surprised. The migration of media from paper to electronic format began some time ago, and will continue. The problems of scale, image quality, and format will be addressed as the technology progresses. At some point, you’ll have your favorite magazines delivered on a Kindle-like device, or any other device you specify. I don’t see it as a bad thing, because it ultimately expands the communication between designer and audience– just like this blog. It implies that any designer with access to a computer can potentially find a worldwide audience, no matter where he or she lives. It also means that design has got to make it on its merits, rather than being “anointed” by a small circle of good-taste gate keepers. The globalization of design goes hand in hand with democratization.
#8 by Brillante on November 14, 2009 - 3:11 pm
Referring to Scone’s comment: I hope Blogs are not in part causing magazines to close down. We need paper issues and electronic ones. Same for books. Nothing can replace the feeling of reading a real book/newspaper/magazine
#9 by Marty Jones on November 17, 2009 - 10:52 pm
I came to this VW blog through the bloomacious.org site. There is a magazine featured called Interiors Magazine. It is interesting that neither you nor others mentioned it. It looks fantastic, I’m guessing it’s national, so why no mention of it. By the look of the digital version, it beats the crap out of Elle and AD.