An ode to magazines...

There is this bargain bookstore where I’m from called “Booksale,” I remember every time I would drop by that place in my school days, the first area I would go to was the magazine section. In there, you would find old issues of magazines such as Vogue, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, and other niche publications. I would spend a good couple of hours browsing through archival issues.

Magazines were my earliest introduction to graphic design. I didn’t realize long-form writing can be so pretty and engaging to look at (to be fair, I was already a massive reader). Whenever I would flip through an issue for the first time, every page feels like a pleasant surprise (some mags would even have perfume samples!).

While the world has shifted to digital, there's something magical about the tactile experience of print.

The creative discipline of a print publication is something that a blog just can’t replicate. There are certain restraints you have to think about: layout, ad space, imagery, colors, etc. It feels like every page is an experience in its own right.

Nowadays, editorial design is not as revered as other forms discipline. During my early graphic designer days, I really thought I was going to get a job in publication.

These days, magazines seem to be a niche interest. I am happy to see a growing number of people from this generation yearning for the sensation that physical media brings: CDs, DVDs, books, or magazines.

Sadly, after my last visit to my nearest Booksale, the magazine section is gone.

An ode to magazines...