Just a quick endorsement of the most recent new incarnation of Interview magazine, art directed by M/M (Paris). You kind of have to see a few issues before you can decide what you think, and now that I've seen a few, I think the new design is really good [somewhat irritating youngsters on both covers notwithstanding].
The typography feels very formal and there's a strong grid throughout, but the handwritten titles break things up and give the feature openers a more carefree feel.
There are also interesting uses of the grid. People who don't design magazines might take this stuff for granted or think it's not a big deal, but to me a spread like this (above) is really refreshing.
The photography and styling throughout Interview are right up there with that of any top fashion magazine.
It's a little smutty too — as it should be, being a magazine that attempts to embody the spirit of lower Manhattan.
I like this ongoing feature, wherein they ask notable people to send in their cell phone photos from around the world.
Left: I like how they do the table of contents. This is not an easy thing to do well. Right: The back page of each issue features a clip from a back issue (here, Matt Dillon at 15). Interview's website also has an extensive archive.
There are great one-pagers throughout as well.I've featured Interview many times on the blog, which is maybe a little strange, but it was largely responsible for forming my ideas about what a magazine should be when I was a kid. I am still obsessed with magazines — I still get excited to open the mailbox — and I'm glad that Interview is still a great way to stay up on new music, movies, art, etc., all for only $12 a year.
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In other magazine news:
Did you know that Google Books has every back issue of New York magazine archived online?
Not to mention Popular Mechanics. And Jet.