Out now: Figure

Figure is a new bilingual (French and English) magazine from Paris that has a simple premise: its Manifesto promises ‘10 people to admire each issue’.

As well as more obvious individuals – el Bulli chef Ferran Adria, artist Jonathan Lasker – the issue also includes a look at the seventies Parisian magazine Facade, with plenty examples from its style-obsessed pages (below).

Figure is a largish 240 x 320mm format, printed on glossy paper and at 136 pages has plenty of space for its subjects. It packs in the dual languages easily, although some of the English translations are a little clumsy.

The design (by Come de Bouchony, Vincent de Hoÿm and Ali Ekber Çelik) is hardline monochrome using a decorative seventies style headline and little other decoration. Those large glossy pages are dominated by the images. It really comes to life when it goes a little off-piste, such as this piece where footballer Jonathan Zebina disucsses his passion for modern African art (below).

I like the editorial premise of ten people and the way it allows slightly random combinations. Always good to see another general interest rather than specialist magazine.