Gym Class Magazine #17

The latest iteration of the ever-changing Gym Class sees it return to its roots with a zine-y 32-page paean to the printed magazine. On Page 23 we find the final page of a feature about magazine podcasts and lists podcast recommendations from mag-related people, including me.

Elsewhere the issues offers more direct magazine content such as interviews with a selection of mag superfans and a look at a series of fave magazine covers, plus plenty of clever magazine references, including an editors letter set in Zapf Dingbats in homage to RayGun’s famous Bryan Ferry interview, and the cover date stating ‘Autumn/Wintour 2019’ in reference to the iconic Vogue editor-in-chief. It’s this light touch that makes Gym Class so special – founder Steven Gregor’s passion for the magazine format shines through every element.

Each page also carries another delightful detail, a series of imagined exchanges between editor and designer (both of whom are Gregor) that run vertically up the inside gutter, as if they’re photo credits.

It was only after we’d decided to feature the issue as our latest Page 23 that I realised the vertical exchange on the page reads, ‘Editor: Hope the magCulture Journal picks this page for its Page 23 feature. Designer: Dream bigger. We really want Magazine of the Week…’

Happy to oblige the editor; apologies to the designer.