We stock about a gazillion different magazine titles as well as stationery across our 5 stores in Australia, New Zealand and online.

Hot Off the Press!

By mag nation | May 9th, 2013

We’ve been doing a little printing ourselves lately and are proud to present Damn Fine Design Mags. Printed on 52 full-colour A5 glossy pages, Damn Fine Design Mags showcases a large selection of our favourite graphic design, architecture and art titles (plus a few other gems). We spent ages working on this thing and it looks amazing (…if we do say so ourselves). Crammed with lively examples of mag layouts, in-depth content descriptions and other essential information, Damn Fine Design Mags is definitely worth checking out if you have a penchant for well designed publications.

 

 

But wait, there’s more…in true Inception style, we have also come up with a magazine about magazines (well OK, it’s more like a newspaper about magazines, but saying that would’ve ruined our line about Inception). In any case,  our 32-page A3 2013 Gift Catalogue features some amazing photography accompanied by product descriptions and pricing information for hundreds of standout titles. Covering everything from fashion to food, current affairs to crafts and trash to travel, the 2013 Gift Catalogue provides a one-stop reference for anyone who is eager to broaden their reading horizons. With something for everyone, the guide is also a great source of inspiration for anyone stuck on what to give to friends, family or business associates at their next mandatory gift-giving occasion.

 

Swing by one of our five stores to get your paws on free copies of Damn Fine Design Mags and the 2013 Gift Catalogue. If you are a tech-savvy/agoraphobic mag lover you can also order free copies of both publications online and have them delivered straight to your doorstep for a small postage fee.

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agIdeas 2013

By mag nation | April 19th, 2013

 

It’s rolling round to the time of year again when the annual agIdeas conference takes place in Melbourne. Having had a look at the speaker lineup, we’re (as always looking forward) to being in attendance. Early bird tickets are still available  here.

We’ve also organised a poster competition with the good people at agIdeas, with the winners announced at the start of the conference , on the 29th of April. We’ve had more than a hundred entries already, and you can check them out here.

Check out the flip through of this year’s program below. If you dig it, you can download the real thing here.

 

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Ala Champfest #6 – 10 Questions

By mag nation | April 19th, 2013

Our friends over at Ala Champfest magazine recently released the 6th issue of their wonderful magazine. Being a semi Melbourne based title, we’ve followed its evolution very closely, and get all hot and bothered when a new issue is eminent. We spoke to Joanna Kawecki, one half of the sisterly duo (Monique Kawecki being the other) that founded the magazine, asking her our 10 questions.

mn: What is your magazine called?

jk: Ala Champfest Magazine

 

mn: What is it about?

jk: Curiosity and investigations into creativity and cultural insight.

 

mn: How often is it published?

jk: It is published twice per year, from January-June, and July-December.

 

mn: What inspired the creation of Ala Champfest?

jk: We love magazines and all printed matter, as we are so fascinated with that happening around us that we wanted to create a medium to share with others too. We travel a lot, meeting amazing people and discovering impressive work – we’d just like others to know and be inspired by it too!

 

mn: Can you tell us about your production values?

jk: Print Ain’t Dead, it’s far from it. There’s a strong appreciation for the tangible object, the sensorial experience and longing of personal connection in our overwhelming digital lives. We want to share our curation of brilliant creatives around the world from artists, photographers, architects, designers and talented enthusiasts.

 

mn: Why have you chosen to have your publication printed in England, rather than following the current trend of having your magazine printed in China?

jk: We’ve formed a wonderful relationship with our British paper supplier and printer, so it’s turned into a really brilliant communicative and enjoyable process of paper stock selection! From access to their new textural stocks, to selecting and curating certain features in our magazine for gloss or matt.

This is something we take pride in, to compliment the craftsmanship of the creatives featured in our magazine, with the artisans who produce the physical work of our pages!

 

mn: I understand that the other editor , your sister Monique, resides in Europe. Does this make it easier or more difficult to produce each issue?

jk: Its really amazing that we love to live in different cities, travel has become so accessible and affordable that its a pleasure to meet in another city and coincide it with new features and content. Every travel together is for the mag. Design-wise and communication-wise, Skype has certainly made things so much easier. We trust each other alot which makes things easier to get done faster! To just get on with an idea without any deliberation or unnecessary back and forth.

 

jk: What should someone opening a copy of Ala Champfest expect?

mn: To be expected consistently, is a genuine and knowledgeable investigative insight into creative culture of art, design, architecture, fashion and culinary quests from international leading creatives in their fields. We have a fine list of contributors around the world, with their fingers on the pulse to collaborate on the most fascinating content. From our favourite stylists and photographers for our custom editorials, to fantastic writers and passionate Champ fam in the know.

 

mn: Which other magazines/publications have most influenced you?

jk: i-D and Mono Kultur, amongst many others! And it is the hard working people behind them that has also really ultimately inspired us. However, looking through our old copies of I-D from ’99, it’s incredibly impressive to see their still-relevant editorial shoots of beautiful photography by emerging photographers and stylists who are now respectfully established. They were so forward-thinking in terms of their content and featured persons. They knew exactly who would blow up!

Mono Kultur is fascinating due to their high calibre of production, from the in-depth dialogue with the issues’ selected interviewee, to the presentation of their print. Sissel Tolaas’ edition presented synthetic smells from her investigative exhibition with Nick Knight, and Taryn Simons’ special edition enclosed little prints to coordinate yourself to the pages. How did they think of this! Simply amazing.

 

mn: What do you think the future holds for Ala Champfest?

jk: To reach many more issues to come, and be the go-to for international culture and knowledge – to celebrate youth and having fun.

 

 

Issue #6 of Ala Champfest is available for purchase at all mag nation stores and online.

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Uppercase #16

By mag nation | March 12th, 2013

Uppercase is an old favourite here at mag nation. It declares itself to be “a magazine for the creative and curious” and it’s a lot of fun. It’s a celebration of illustration, printing, art, design, interiors, craft and style. Uppercase may spend three paragraphs telling you what paper it’s printed on (Rolland Enviro100 Satin, for enthusiasts) but it has a bright, clean layout that emphasises the skill and joy while downplaying the potential frou-frou-ness of some of the subjects.

Basically, knitwear has never looked this good.

In this latest issue you’ll visit a marquee sign-maker in Nashville (who actually comes from Melbourne) and a Swedish art institution based in an old infectious diseases hospital. There’s an engaging piece about the Romani people as well as the whimsy of a collection of “do not disturb” signs.

Uppercase is produced in Calgary in Canada, and it’s a labour of love for editor Janine VanGool. In a Q&A on the Uppercase site she advises creators to “Make sure that you keep it personal! Don’t try to force something that feels unnatural or fake. No one will respond to it. I sincerely pour all my efforts and available funds (and then some) into everything that I produce. There is no compromising. The phrase “labour of love” rings true with Uppercase. This hard work, sincerity and commitment is the Uppercase style”.

There’s also a look at vintage etiquette books in this issue, and the 1934 publication “Gentlemen Preferred: A Book Of Etiquette For Boys” advises that no matter how much effort you have put into your appearance, you shouldn’t let others see the work. Instead, “you must look as though you just happened“.

It’s advice that probably rings true to Uppercase itself.

Uppercase can be found in our stores and online here.

 

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Little White Lies #44

By mag nation | March 1st, 2013

We stock a lot of great film mags, but they can sometimes seem to be following the same path. If there’s a limit to how many Django Unchained covers you can stand, you might want to look at Little White Lies.

Hailing from the UK (and produced by creative agency The Church of London who also gave us Huck), Little White Lies has a strong emphasis on graphic design – just check out that amazing cover image of Philip Seymour Hoffman. Their idiosyncratic approach covers everything from the cover to the  choice of paper size.

Each issue of Little White Lies is dedicated to one film, and issue 44 looks at Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master. It starts with a longform exploration of the film, a piece looking at Anderson’s themes, an interview with producer Joanne Sellar and another with Philip Seymour Hoffman himself.

Spiralling out from the film there’s a piece about using 70mm and an interview with ex-cult members.

Toward the back of the mag you’ll find a more traditional selection of pieces – there’s reviews (including a UK take on The Sapphires), an overview of Jack Nicholson’s career, and an interview with Martin McDonagh (director of In Bruges).

It’s bold to focus so much on one film, but it means Little White Lies can offer you something you won’t get from other mags. If you’re only going to buy one film mag this year… well, it’ll probably be Empire, Film Ink, IF, Sight & Sound or Total Film. If you’re going to buy TWO, however, you’ll love Little White Lies.

Check out more images below and here’s a video showing the production team at work. You’ll find Little White Lies instore or online here.

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Anthology #10

By mag nation | February 22nd, 2013

On of the nicest things about travelling is you can play pretend and no-one minds. You can think “what sort of person would I be if I lived here? What would I do? Who would I be?”

Anthology is a beautiful mag that let’s you play that game without leaving home. Gorgeous photo-spreads allow you a sticky-beak round some fabulous abodes, with a fascinating attention to the small stuff. The shoes by the bed. The cups in the kitchen. The plants in the yard. There’s a sense of immersion as you explore these spaces.

The people who live in them are fascinating too. There’s a costume designer for Mad Men. A manager for Anthropologie who also runs a model train store. A restaurant outfitter. Musicians. Designers. Writers. A blacksmith. Seriously, a blacksmith. And you get to hang out with them for a while and live their lives.

This being the Americana issue there’s also a look at Philadelphia, a piece on rollercoasters and a dinner party in a Brooklyn loft. There’s even recipes (with equally succulent photos).

Anthology works on a human scale. It’s soothing, interesting, and filled with joy. It might make you just a tiny bit envious of the lives it covers, but it will definitely give you ideas to incorporate into your own.

Anthology is available instore or online here.

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Rouleur #35

By mag nation | February 15th, 2013

 

Rouleur is a magazine for people who love cycling. This isn’t a magazine for dilettantes, it’s not aimed at someone who thinks cycling is just “ok”. The word “passion” appears a lot in descriptions of Rolouer. On their website they say “Rouleur features photography and serious writing that celebrate the passion and beauty of the sport.”

And the word beauty is important here – Rouleur is a beautiful mag, but it’s not pretty. There’s a rawness, a masculinity to these art-stock pages. There’s a romantic brutality and a raw elegance to the imagery, an understanding that passion is something that consumes your every moment.

The latest issue looks at a new book about the 1940s/50s cyclist Fausto Coppi, including some great La Dolce Vita-era photographs. There’s a piece about British bike company Genesis reviving steel as a material for professional race bikes. An article on an exhibition of bike-related art in Venice. A diary of a gruelling race in Louisville. It’s all here.

Rouleur is “aimed at those people who, like us, are passionate about the sport, but don’t expect to see bike tests and race reports. Instead, the magazine focuses on exquisite photography and writing that really gets under the skin of the great riders and theatres of road racing.”

Rouleur is available instore and online here.

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Day Job #01

By mag nation | February 14th, 2013

The English author Jerome K. Jerome once said , “I like work – it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours.”

Day Job is a new mag that does just that. According to the introduction, Day Job is “a publication for anyone who has ever had a job they’ve loved, a job they’ve hated, a life-long calling or a way to make an easy buck. In short, it’s about work, a celebration of the everyday ways in which we spend our time and energy”. It may seem an odd thing to spend your wages on, but there’s something engaging and oddly intimate about the stories here. In the same way that apartamento lets you have a sticky beak at other people’s houses without anyone calling the cops, Day Job lets you have a sneaky peak at other people’s lives.

So you get a close-up looks at the workers in a sheet metal factory, as well as an interview with Milton Glaser, designer of the “I Love New York” logo and co-founder of New York magazine. A piece about the farm show in New York State is next to a profile of a calligrapher in Beirut. There’s a photo essay entitled “The Barber Shops And Beauty Salons Of Crown Heights Brooklyn”, a look at minor-league baseball, an exploration of street food in New York City, an article on how to teach a maths problem – it’s strangely exotic and deeply normal, all at the same time. And that’s without even mentioning the Swedish Dominican friar who’s also an architect.

Basically, what we’re saying is an article about the people who work at a ladder company shouldn’t be as interesting as this.

It’s a hefty volume that’s totally absorbing, and will make you look at your own life in a new way (plus there’s lunch recipes! No, really, there is).

Make an appointment with Day Job – you’ll find it in store or online here.

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Dumbo Feather #34

By mag nation | February 11th, 2013

Dumbo Feather is a magazine that loves people. Extraordinary people, from around the world. It sits down with them and tries to get to the heart of what drives them, how they see the world, how they think.

It’s also deeply optimistic, and inspiring. Issue 34 introduces us to (amongst others) a Palestinian peace activist, an illustrator, a potter and a master of the Shakuhachi flute, all of whom tell their stories. This might make it all sound a bit earnest and mung-bean (indeed, the mag uses soy-based inks so if you were really hungry you could probably turn it into a soup*) but there’s nothing woolly about Dumbo Feather. It’s more about honesty and people talking about how they really feel.

Beyond that it’s also a very handsome publication, with strong design and imagery. Dumbo Feather has been around since 2004 and it’s always been one of our favorites. It’s a mag that inspires devotion (we recently had a South American customer come to our Brunswick Street store and buy 10 back issues in one go). We love it and we think you will too.

Dumbo Feather is available instore or online here.

 

(*DO NOT try to make a soup out of Dumbo Feather. In fact, don’t try eating any of our mags. Mags are for reading, not eating).

And while you’re here, here’s some trivia about the 1941 feature film Dumbo, from which this mag takes its name: Dumbo was the most financially successful Disney film of the 1940s. It was made partly to recoup the losses Disney incurred on the theatrical release of Fantasia, and at 64 minutes is one of their shortest animated features. Mag nation – we know stuff.

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Cereal #01

By mag nation | February 9th, 2013

Here’s a fantastic new food mag – or possibly a great new travel mag. Cereal hails from the UK and is a highly-stylish food/travel combo dedicated to “edible topics” which is “rooted in our passions – for food, for travel”.

Unusually, it’s divided up into chapters, with multiple articles in each section. So chapter 5 celebrates the Italian town of Ravello, while chapter 2 is “Carrots”. Chapter 4 is all about your matcha – a finely ground green tea – which includes a recipe for “Marbled Matcha And Lemon Ginger Swirl Cake With A Citrus Glaze”. Oh, Cereal, you had us at “cake”. Or possibly “glaze”.

There’s bold imagery and a richness of colour in this mag, inviting you to settle in and really lose yourself in the pages. And lovers of actual cereal won’t be disappointed – chapter 8 includes a history of breakfast cereals which dares to ask “what happened to toys in cereal boxes?”.

Cereal is available in our stores or online here.

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