Interview Magazine
'Art direction,' design, and custom lettering for Interview Magazine.
In early 2018 I assisted Richard Turley redesign of the magazine, incorporating hand-lettering and a loose victorian-inspired template at an oversize scale. During the initial design period I drew the logotype which is based on the 90s proportions.
Since the initial launch we have shifted the design seasonally, adapting our display type and overall strategy to match changing tastes, tones, and evolutions in style. I developed new templates and style sheets through these micro-pivots
Each issue is designed with Jack Vhay with/under Richard Turley, our Design Director. Current EIC: Mel Ottenberg. Lots of talented people make the words, photos and fashion happen. Check out the Interview website 'masthead' for more. Below is a survey of work, which is by no means complete.
In spring 2024, after roughly 33 issues and 15000+ pages, I moved on from the mag.
Summary
2023-4
Direct Control
For 2023 Mel wanted to simplify and clean up the design to make it more direct and punchy. I helped Richard develop a stylesheet for the year using Control, a new sans-serif typeface by Commercial Type, which channelled 70s Interview with contemporary poise. We pivoted heavily to the use of quotes to drive the reader through each story, and in turn the whole magazine.
Interview Spring 2023
Heartbreaker. Lana Del Rey, with Control.
2022
Stencil, Punch, Axi.
Early in the year we began by shifting headline lettering to readymade stencils with paint markers. Midway through the year we shifted course and by years end we were lettering using a robotic arm.
Interview Fall 2022
On fire. Axi. With Nicki Minaj on the cover.
Interview September 2022
Pray for us. With Kim Kardashian on the cover.
Interview Summer 2022
Work it. With Anne Hathaway on the cover.
Interview Spring 2022
With Donald Glover on the cover.
Interview March 2022
With Alexander Skarsgard on the cover.
2020
Proxy
We shifted headlines away from cursive marker to 'PROXY,' a reverse contrast display font by Commercial Type.
Interview Winter 2020
Puddle. Featuring Lakeith Stanfield on the cover.
Interview Fall 2020
I'm scared. Featuring Nicolas Cage on the cover.
Interview September 2020
The Covid Issue. Featuring Lana Del Rey on the cover. This issue was accented by a broken printer for select display typography.
Interview Spring 2020
Featuring Selena Gomez on the cover. New Typeface: Proxy by Commercial Type
2019
Nib Marker + Caslon Ionic
In keeping with the early idea to match the Interview logo's gestural mark from cover through the interior, this year prominently featured a chisel nib paint marker across headline treatments.
Interview Winter 2019
Featuring Finn Wolfhard on the cover; featuring Rickey Thompson, Gabriette, Seth Rogan, 100 Gecs, Marlene Dumas, Grimes, and more. This was the last issue with hand lettering in it.
Interview Fall 2019
Featuring Kate McKinnon on the cover; featuring "Where Are They Now" of Warhol-Factory Interns, Big Girls and Small Men, a poem by Jeremy O. Harris, A Trip with Christeene, and lots more. This magazine was a celebratory "500th edition" of the magazine and is all based around referencing old content in each story (in some capacity.) There is a guide to this on the final spread.
Interview Fall 2019
Featuring RuPaul on the cover; Hailey Bieber, GmbH, Marianne Williamson, Amy Sedaris, Antonio Banderas, The Teletubbies, and more. The cover is a foil stamp we specifically selected out from between Ru's wig (hard!)
Interview Summer 2019
Featuring Rihanna on the cover; Pink Hair Boys, Interviews with Courtney Love, Bad Bunny, a few of the US Women's Soccer Champions; a Medicine Cabinet of Curiosities; Illustrations by Ruohan Wang; and more.
Interview Spring 2019
Featuring Richard Madden on the cover; Garfield, Interviews with Kelsey Lu, Beanie Feldstein, and more; a sleepy time salad; art by Kunle F. Martins; Illustrations by Thomas Colligan; and more.
Interview March 2019
Featuring Cate Blanchett on the cover; The cast of The Hills, Paris Hilton's Cell Phones, Interviews with JUICE WRLD, Glenda Jackson, and Cosey Fanni Tutti among others; a heavy-value salad; Some influencers; Weed by Robert Blair; and more.
2018
Ink Brush + Caslon Ionic
The original intent was to bring the brush lettering out of the archives and into the modern day in an oversized format. Unfortunately the magazine already had bought a years worth of the smaller sized paper so we had to keep it in a smaller scale.
Interview September 2018
The relaunch issue. With Agnes Varda on the cover.
Interview Fall 2018
With Robert Pattinson on the cover.
Interview Winter 2018
With Young Thug on the cover.
Logotype
Interview Logo 2018-2024
An updated logo mark based more on the proportions of the 90's design. Completed under guidance of Richard Turley, Mel Ottenberg, and Nick Haramis. Completed with India ink & later refined digitally.
Additional Credits
EIC: Nick Haramis (2018-2021), CD: Mel Ottenberg, Photo Director, Ruben Ramos (2021-2022), Michael Quinn (2019-2021); Samantha Adler (2018-2019). Shoutout to Megan Wray Schertler(Managing Editor 2018-2019) and Thom Bettridge 2018-2019 (Senior Editor 2018-2019).