Complete line-up for The Modern Magazine
Excitement is building here about The Modern Magazine conference. Yesterday’s site visit to the Platform Theatre focused thoughts on the detail of the day – the way the auditorium will be lit, the set-ups for the group discussions, a good supply of tea and coffee. With little over a week to go, the magCulture studio is filling up with magazines and other items for the goodie bags.
All of which matters, but the really important stuff is the content. Several people have asked what will the day consist of? I hope the following details will flesh out what until now has only been a list of names.
There are three strands to the day: a series of longer, keynote talks, some briefer presentations by independent magazine-makers, and two panel discussions. The schedule mixes these up to give some contrast and pace. Think of the day as a magazine…
Three of the keynote speakers are from magazines featured in The Modern Magazine book – Omar Sosa, Joerg Koch and Richard Turley – each of whom play key roles at three of today’s most vital magazines. Apartamento co-founder Sosa has shown how a magazine can reinvent a traditional genre, the interiors magazine; Koch has overseen the development of 032c from two-colour newsprint zine to heavyweight cultural bible; and at Bloomberg Businessweek Turley has shown how a US newsweekly can be at the very forefront of editorial creativity. In addition, we are pleased to host Patrick Waterhouse, the British creative director/editor who has recently reinvigorated Benneton’s multilingual global magazine Colors, and Tyler Brulé.
Tyler needs little introduction. He is a passionate advocate for magazines, as he has demonstrated firstly through Wallpaper* and latterly with Monocle, his independently owned business/culture publication. Launched in 2007, Monocle now publishes ten times a year as a magazine and twice as a newspaper, as well as operating digital radio station Monocle24. One of their most popular shows is The Stack, an hour every week devoted to magazines.
The sixth keynote speaker is Justine Picardie, who was appointed editor of Harper’s Bazaar last year alongside new creative director Marissa Bourke. Together they have set about reinventing the magazine, calling on the title’s 100-year history for inspiration.
Justine’s talk will be the opener for the first of two group discussions (the second strand). This will be a broader discussion about women’s magazines, a much-maligned area of publishing often overlooked at creative events. Joining Justine will be Penny Martin, editor of The Gentlewoman, Debbie Evans, founder/editor of Libertine and Liz Ann Bennett, editor of Oh Comely. German journalist Kati Krause will chair this session.
The final keynote comes from designer/typographer Paul Barnes. As well as hands-on editorial design experience alongside Roger Black in New York, Paul has been typographic advisor and consultant to many publications, perhaps most notably The Guardian. He is partner with Christian Schwartz in Commerical type, and will be discussing their recent work for Wallpaper* and Vanity Fair.
Sprinkled between these keynotes will be a series of briefer talks by the founders of some of the best independent magazines: Rosa Park (Cereal), Matt Lee (Delayed Gratification), Cathy Olmedillas (Anorak) and Davey Spen (Boat) will share their print magazines and David Jacob of 29 Street Publishing will introduce his independent iPad publications (including Letter to Jane). These five speakers will come together later in the day to share their experiences of independent publishing in a discussion led by Steve Watson from Stack Magazines and Printout.
I’m also super-excited to include a brief presentation by artist/designer Scott King. Best-known editorially for his confrontational front cover designs at Sleazenation, Scott will be showing his Sink Vogue front cover parodies.
The magCulture shop will be selling copies of The Modern Magazine book and our My Favo(u)rite Magazine project for Bob Newman, along with some of the featured independent magazines (cash only).
At the end of the day attendees and speakers are invited to relax with a drink in the Central Saint Martins graphic design studio (courtesy of Monocle and CSM). We also hope to hold a raffle (using your ticket numbers) for some rarities from the magCulture postbag.
Tickets are limited and selling fast. Buy yours here.