Sarah Richardson, Beyond Noise
Beyond Noise is a creative brand for the modern women, headlined by a spectacular biannual print magazine consisting of two volumes in a board slipcase. Founder Sarah Richardson tells us more, as issue three arrives.
Sarah studied design at Central St Martins, and was head of display at Browns boutique London before becoming a freelance fashion stylist and creative consultant. She has worked in senior roles at i-D and Document, and also consulted for luxury brands including Jil Sander, Lanvin and Alexander McQueen. The Beyond Noise magazine is the first title she has launched, as she explains, ‘I have learnt so much from working in the fashion industry as a whole and in the creative fields across the board that I wanted to explore and learn more within other broader topics, like science and the environment.’
What are you doing this morning?
On a usual London office day, I arrive around 9am, 30 mins before the rest of the team with my husband & business partner Richard Bush, after a visit to Ottolenghi for coffee and pastries. We use this time to discuss the day, ahead of a meeting with the team.
Describe your work environment
I like to work in an open plan office, not to be cut off from the rest of the team, so we can communicate and brainstorm throughout the day. Beyond Noise has offices in both New York & London; the London office is near Old Street and the NY office is in the WSA. The London office has a wonderful view across the Regents Canal and is located in an old warehouse building from the 1800s.
Which magazine do you first remember?
The very first magazine I remember was British Vogue, at my grandmothers house. She later brought me a subscription for my 13th birthday which she carried on for over a decade. I also started looking at Smash Hits when I was around mnine years old. And then in my teens it was The Face—I clearly remember the covers being super impactful and unique. I then followed on with reading i-D, where I later became both Contributing fashion editor & Fashion director.
Aside from yours, what’s your favourite magazine?
I appreciate content over whether something is commercial or niche. Under the right Editor, the most commercial magazines can be a creative exploration of our times.
Italisn Vogue under Franca Sozzani, a visual treat.
Egoiste: beautiful broadsheet, unique point of view.
The original The Face was so bold and rebellious. On the pulse & creative from a Pop POV.
What other piece of media would you recommend? And why?
All mediums have something different to offer but also important to be still in your own space, take time to read. I'm a big fan of movies past and present.
Describe Beyond Noise in three words
Women of Today
A project of this scale obviously needs more than three words! Describe Beyond Noise in all its glory
Beyond Noise aims to be both accessible and unique and allow creativity to flourish, so we hopefully captured the multi faceted modern woman and the female gaze in all it’s beauty and complexity.
With this in mind, we aim to approach all our content with a structure in place where all cultural interests can live, within a beautiful slipcase for storage, a practical solution to keep the two volumes in pristine condition—the idea is for us to be collectible—and that the slipcases themselves should be a beautiful object as part of interior design concept.
Within the slipcase we have the two volumes, Beyond and Noise, the contents of which span our seven pillars: Fashion, Beauty, Culture, Environment, Tech and Art. Both volumes are printed on high-quality paper.
Beyond is focused on fashion and beauty imagery, with a curated approach including some of the most talented visual creatives of our time. It’s intention is to inspire our readers, focusing on creativity and featuring the best designs from luxury houses and emerging designers. The stories are separated by stunning graphics designed by Gareth Hague.
Noise houses all of the pillars. We open with a manifesto each issue, penned by a leading female thinker. This is followed by our Faces in Focus series, wherein each issue covers talented women from one city from across different demographics and disciplines. This issue's is NYC photographed by Craig McDean, which also included our talented woman cover, spotlighting women who are forces in their respective industries, but haven’t traditionally been covered in this way. Throughout Noise we have profiles and articles that traverse everything from AI to film and art.
What did you learn from your roles at i-D, Document and elsewhere that informed the launch of your own mag?
It was never my intention to own a publication. I have always been focused on my freelance career, but it felt like the right time and to put together a project that was from my point of view, of how I would like a magazine and a larger creative project to be and, of course what I had learnt for working for different magazines over the years. I have learnt so much from working in the fashion industry as a whole and in the creative fields across the board that I wanted to explore and learn more within other broader topics, like science and the environment. It’s been a huge learning experience with everyday bringing new ideas and opportunities.
How does your work for clients and the magazine interact?
Obviously, being very intertwined in the industry in terms of fashion helps with constantly being informed and inspired, but Beyond Noise is not a fashion magazine per se. It covers a multitude of topics which myself and the team are always looking to expand upon.
Please show us one spread that sums up how the magazine works, and gives a sense of what the reader can expect from the mag
This is from the ‘Faces in Focus’ portfolio in Noise. This spread shows a portrait of Brooke Ray Martin-Éder, and a collage by David James. This encapsulates Beyond Noise: a talented woman rather than a celebrity, wearing catwalk look by Prada, and a collage art piece.
What has publishing magazines taught you that may be helpful to anyone else planning to launch one?
Be curious. Don’t be boxed in to what people think you should do, follow your own inspirations. Live and learn everyday—have new experiences to put this into practice.
What are you most looking forward to this coming week?
Having new experiences!