Print Isn’t Dead

HUR TABLE GUESTS

Jan 30

Print Isn’t Dead

With Kelly Croteau, Hanna Nova Beatrice, Mette Barfod and Sarah de Mavaleix

By HURS team

The death of print has been announced to the world more than once, but magazines and books remain part of our digital-first lives. While we’ve all adapted to our lives in the digital sphere, many have remained loyal to printed goods. Rather than focusing on the well-known, legacy, mass market titles, these individuals take a highly curated approach to the collecting of magazines and books. They seek out the niche, independent titles with a distinct point of view. The Gentlewoman, Apartemento and Monocle come to mind. Simultaneously, there’s a growing group of enthusiasts for whom the collecting of books and magazines has become a way to connect with fellow print fans, and some have even been able to build businesses around their passion for the printed word. From Seen Library’s community of readers, to book curator Simay Demirel Instagram account @whereiwouldliketoread, to luxury house Alaia partnering with Rare Books Paris.

During the height of independent magazine publishing in the mid 2010s, there was truly a publication for everyone. While that golden era of Indie titles didn’t last forever, it did create a generation of consumers with a deep appreciation for niche publications that spoke to their specific interests and view on the world. Bringing value in a way no legacy media title had done before. And they still do. 58% in the UK and 47% in the US prefer reading magazines in print compared to online. These publications are more than just magazines. They have become luxury products that showcase your interests and way of life.

But why do we still gravitate towards print, in a world where everything is right at our fingertips? In an oversaturated world where large publications started to focus on reach over point of view, little to no value for readers remained. Niche publications offer a counter movement – creating highly curated titles with a distinct point of view. Providing a filter on a world of plenty. While the digital world has improved our lives in so many ways, digital publishing has been unable to match the experience of flicking through a printed publication. Print cultivates communities, not clickbait

KELLY CROTEAU
Founded in 2019 by Kelly Croteau, Maison Plage is a destination for those seeking rare, out of print, and new books relating to art, design, travel and photography. Each book is hand-selected by Croteau, who collaborates with private individuals, interior designers, and brands, to curate exclusive collections and libraries. Inspired by French grandeur and the beach, the world of Maison Plage merges leisure and luxury.

HANNA NOVA BEATRICE
After many years as Editor in chief for Swedish magazines such as Residence, Form and Plaza, as well as the international title My Residence, she founded The New Era Magazine at the end of 2021. The biannual magazine covers design, architecture, art and craft from Scandinavia and beyond, with an aim to offer a more nuanced image of the creative scene in the Nordics. With a strong visual language The New Era and its sister publication The New Era Agenda has distribution in 30 plus countries.

METTE BARFOD
Mette Barfod is the Editor-in-Chief and founder of Copenhagen-based biannual magazine Ark Journal. Bridging architecture, design and art, Ark Journal showcases how these disciplines influence each other over looking at them in silos. The 240-page magazine is sold in 25 countries around the world.

SARAH DE MAVALEIX
Sarah de Mavaleix is a stylist and art director and the co-founder of Paris-based publication The Skirt Chronicles. The title explores literature, fashion, culture and beyond, granting equal importance to photography as to the written word. Since its inception in 2018, The Skirt Chronicles has become a favorite of industry tastemakers and has won the Editor of the Year prize at the Stack Awards in London. The publication is distributed in over one hundred points of sale globally.

We asked four industry insiders for their take on how social media and digital publishing has affected print, whether print is still the conduit of culture and why consumers remain enticed by magazines.