The Last Magazine

"Magazines as we know them, are dying. Ink and paper, the materials that have defined magazines for over 250 years, are dissolving gradually into digital bits and bytes". David Renard. (2006) The Last Magazine, New York: Universe Publishing.

This extract is the extremely relevant opening sentence to The Last Magazine. Described as:
An anthology of 150 of the world's most cutting-edge art, fashion, photography, architecture, and design periodicals currently in publication traces the evolution and future of magazines in the digital age, in a visual survey that features essays from such top industry thinkers as Steven Heller, Terry Jones, and Robert Sacks.

As the world and the design industry move to all things digital, The Last Magazine questions the future of the printed medium and where its future lye's within its rapidly changing environment. With words from David Renard, Angelo Crimele, Nick Hampshire, Rankin and Bob Sacks to name a few, sharing their valuable thoughts on this topic, it makes for a truly interesting read which delves into all areas of the magazine industry, from design to distribution. If anything, after reading the essays from these industry experts at the start of the book, I was left wanting to read more on the subjects and dissapointed that the rest of the book did not offer this.

But with over 250 pages packed with magazine spreads ranging from childish illustrations to photo journalism that your mum might mistake as a spread from a porn mag, my dissapointment was thrown aside with the visual feast that is served up. Whilst turning the pages, you really get a sense of the freedom and creativity which these magazines thrive upon and what makes the experience so much more pleasurable is the insight into the many different cultures which are represented. With the book measuring a hefty 250mm x 330mm, the images are a perfect size to see the magazines in the detail they deserve.

With the rise in design blogs making magazines dated as soon as the ink is applied, The Last Magazine makes you admire the people who refuse to be beaten and continue to make compelling, relevant and intriguing publications. The opening essays combined with the many examples of the best magazines make The Last Magazine a valuable source of written information on the magazine industry, and also a perfect reference book for inspiration.