MAGCULTURE.COM / BLOG

Case da Abitare

I’m tempted to introduce this magazine as a rare find on eBay, a classic from the early sixties that I finally tracked down. The title typography and illustrated cover definitely refer back to a previous era, but it carries a barcode and is dated April 2008.

This redesign of Italian interiors title Case da Abitare is the latest work by Tyler Brulé’s creative communications company Winkreative. A team led by Brulé and art director Kuchar Swara re-vamped the magazine, creating an almost idealised version of early modernist graphic design that nods towards both those principal’s previous work.

Swara brings his experience from Esterson Associates to bear on the typography, grid and colour palette, while Brulé provides a ruthless rigour to the content and organisation. My only disappointment is that there is a familiar lack of change and pace, something it shares with Brulé’s Monocle. It’s in danger of being beautiful, worthy and, well, slightly dull. Nonetheless, it’s worth getting hold of a copy to admire a rare attempt to apply strong, intelligent graphic design to an editorial project.