In case you didn’t know, I am a sucker for hand-drawn type. So when I saw this issue of Hunger on the newsstand in Sainsburys, (not what i was expecting to find there!) I had to buy it.
Hunger is a bi-annual magazine ‘for the culturally and visually hungry’ from photographer and the co-founder of Dazed & Confused, Rankin, and this is the second issue. Continuing from the cover, the typography inside is stunning. I love the use of the silver spot colour (the scan doesn’t do it justice).
The first thing that struck me about the magazine is that were completely, absolutely, zero advertisements. Although good adverts can make a magazine better, it was definitely refreshing for them to be absent. The second thing that struck me was the colossal weight and thickness of the magazine. Seriously, it’s huge! Compared to ‘usual’ magazines (see photo below) it’s many times thicker for about the same price, and when you factor in that it contains no ads, that’s a whole lot of visual loveliness for your money.
Something as simple as designing the spine in the aesthetic of the magazine (I guess Hunger is designed as a book as well as a magazine, so standing out on a shelf is important) really sets it apart from others, and is an element of contemporary magazines that is often overlooked.
I’ve scanned a couple of my favourite spreads below (it was very hard to choose), and I love the fact they’re not afraid to use colour in addition to the simple layouts. The pages and pages of work from illustrator Carne Griffiths are also a massive highlight.
The silver colouring is put to best use in this huge editorial where it covers the entire page, only broken by the highly contrasted images of models. Really beautiful editorial direction, and I am so happy to see a British magazine setting new standards. Unfortunately I missed the first issue, but I will be getting issue three in a few months time for sure.
Finally, I leave you with the Editor’s letter. Hunger is an awesome magazine and I’ve only touched on 1% of what makes it so. Go and grab a copy!
Hunger Summer 2012 is available on newsstands now.
Editorial Love is a regular feature that documents my interest in contemporary magazine, publishing, and print design. For more, select Editorial Love from the Categories bar.
