Simon is art director of Eye magazine
And talked on Are we having fun? A look at the magazine industry’s approach to design
To watch the full recording of Simon’s talk, please buy a ticket for all the main stage recordings of Magazine Street, or if you were an attendee on the day, please email us for the password to watch.
About Word on the Street
Word on the Street is the magazine made in a day from Magazine Street, designed by world renowned editorial designer Simon Esterson, and written by kick-ass editor Joanna Cummings.
Word on the Street is a snapshot of Magazine Street – and the magazine publishing industry we all love to be part of. In its pages you’ll find examples of the passion, knowledge and sheer bloodymindedness that gets publications from concept to treasured project.
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About Simon
Simon is a magazine, book and newspaper designer.
His studio, Esterson Associates, has worked with Mark Porter on The Guardian and The Sunday Times in Britain, NZZ am Sonntag in Switzerland and Valor in Brazil. He was previously art director of the Italian architecture title Domus and is now co-owner and art director of the international graphic design magazine Eye. Current publications working with the studio include the monthly History Today, Pulp for the papermaker Fedrigoni and, with Stephen Coates, Art Quarterly for the Art Fund.
He is a Royal Designer for Industry and a member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale.
About Simon’s talk
Are we having fun?
Content warning: Comic Sans will not be mentioned
Funny writing and funny images are part of publishing’s toolbox, but what about funny graphic design? In this cross between a talk and a public therapy session, designer Simon Esterson looks back at the relationship between humour and graphic design in magazines and wonders if he could ever abandon the comfort zone of a page grid and, in the words of one client, “just do something a bit funny”. These images from his work at Eye magazine suggest he has some way to go…
Connect with Simon
Web: eyemagazine.com
Instagram: @eyemagazine