It seems like everywhere we look, someone is writing some kind of article about how print media is going the way of the dinosaur. They have a point, but we’re a little more optimistic. Digital publishing may be convenient and lightning quick in a world traveling faster than ever, but that’s not to say it can replace the feel and aesthetic pleasure we get from thumbing through a real life physical magazine. We liken it to music: Streaming your favorite artist’s latest album the second it drops is awesome, but nothing really beats owning a physical copy of the record—the linear notes, lyric book, cover art, etc. Some things are just better in analog.
Highsnobiety
You’re probably already familiar with the online version of Highsnobiety, but did you know there’s a print edition? Each issues explores a particular theme in only the kind of way Highsnobiety can. The current issue, Issue 16, explores how people are surviving in a post “fake news” world, where social media is dominated by influencers and wannabes, and where people are beholden to what they’re calling, “the almighty algorithm.” Each issue also features editorials and interviews with different thinkers, artists, designers, etc. across the world, to share their views and opinions on the world and everyone in it. Highsnobiety bills itself as the place where pop culture and the streets meet, and that’s exactly what you can expect from the print version. Link
Gear Patrol
We love what the folks over at Gear Patrol do on the daily, but we really love their print magazine. They only release it twice a year, which means each issue is very carefully curated to include only the best of the best Gear Patrol has to offer. Each issue is a little under 300 pages, and the latest one, Issue Six, comes with a focus on courage, which is one of the finest traits a person or brand can possess, if you ask us. If you like Gear Patrol’s normal stuff, you’ll absolutely love the print magazine. Link
Pod Papers Magazine
In an era where more people are ditching print for podcasts every day, one magazine is aiming to do the exact opposite. Pod Papers Magazine is a limited-edition magazine from the folks at the Paper & Packaging Board, and the idea is something we fell in love with immediately. They take people’s favorite podcasts and bring them to life on the written page, with a beautiful design and layout to match. The magazine partners with incredible artists and designers to help craft each podcast into a tactile experience readers love. Popular podcasts include Dear Sugars, Design Matters, Grammar Girl, and 99% Invisible. The best part? It’s free. Link
Adbusters
Adbusters says they’re an “international collective of artists, designers, poets, punks, writers, directors, musicians, philosophers, dropouts, and wild hearts.” Their magazine is provocative and political, and takes aim at the banks and big businesses they feel ruin the world we live in. Technically, they’re a Canadian-based not-for-profit organization, and the magazine is 100% reader supported, with the goal being to sell people ideas rather than products. We’re obviously not anti-consumerism, but Adbusters does offer a refreshing look at an industry that’s saturated to the bone with advertisements and branding. Link
Sidetracked
When people ask us about Sidetracked Magazine and why we’re so in love with it, we explain that it’s not just a travel magazine. It’s an emotionally charged “adventure journal” that looks into the depths of our planet. It’s a catalogue of experiences retold by the people who lived through them. We love Sidetracked because they make every story about the adventure seekers who are willing to get out there, rather than sit at home or in their offices daydreaming. These aren’t just stories with fancy words and nice photos; they’re immersive experiences that’ll inspire you to go outside and live your damn life. Link
Boat
Boat Magazine takes gonzo-style storytelling to a whole new level. Each issue of this travel and culture magazine focuses on a new exciting and inspiring city. While that’s cool, it doesn’t quite sum up exactly how radical this magazine really is. For every issue, the staff uproots their office and travels directly to the city they’re covering. They physically move to the city for a few weeks, set up a studio there, and work directly with locals to provide the best and most in-depth content about that particular city. From Reykjavik to Havana, Tel Aviv to Bangkok, readers are given passes to cities in ways most tourists could only dream of. Link
Cereal
Cereal’s goal is to meld travel, style, and design together in one beautiful, high quality package. It only comes out once every two years, but each issue is more incredible than the last. Each issue includes a variety of destinations, as well as stories and interviews about and with the people and groups shaping the world of art, fashion, and design. Each issue also incorporates some type of theme, which helps tie the it all together. For instance, the Spring/Summer 2018 issue (Issue 15), revolves around sustainability and includes interviews with famous designers like Tadao Ando and Ilse Crawford. Link
MOOD
MOOD is a magazine that revolves around two of our favorite things: Food and music. And that admittedly sounds weird, at first. Food and music are great by themselves, but how can a magazine succinctly tie the two together without having to stretch? Well, that’s exactly what MOOD does, and that’s why we love it. The magazine’s entire goal is to talk food and music through beautiful design and high quality writing, by partnering with excellent artists and writers from all over the world. We also love how MOOD incorporates several different travel destinations into every issue, exploring the best places to eat and find music in every new place—from Nashville to Dubai. Link
