Australian INfront

Here here Michael! Though there have been some great Australian magazine's which have gained solid international distribution / recognition off-shore.

There is some world class work being done in this country and by Aussie's abroad - so I don't think it's the confidence, I think it's being brave enough to make the leap to a press. The collective 'we' are featured across the globe on-line for our creative endeavors but to put it all together in one bound edition has the potential to blow some minds.

It is quite annoying that there is no real Australian Graphic Design magazine but I wonder if there is even a big enough market to make such a publication viable. I mean as far as Australia goes we are a small population and you also have to take into account that graphic design is only a small industry.

For us to sit back and blame these other publications I think is a little weak at the end of the day. I mean anyone of us could really go ahead and do something ourselves. So many great publications have come out of Australia starting on crazy low budgets but just people passionate enough to get out there and do it!

Hey James
I think you just answered your own question there. Sure the 'industry audience' might be smaller in comparison to other countries but, like you said, passionate people can do wonders with low budgets. Also, why do you automatically assume an Australian produced Graphic Design publication need only appeal to other Australians and no one else. I'd even go as far to say that there is a very design literate audience out there today that aren't necessarily all designers either.

Agree with you on many of these points Michael, particularly the last point about Artichoke being the magazine of choice amongst the three you have mentioned. Perhaps it is simply a matter of Artichoke doing a re-think of its agenda, target audiences and organisational affiliations?

Despite its membership being open to the Graphic Design arena, the DIA also places emphasis on catering to its Interior Design / Architectural member base which I think is (probably duly) represented in the content structure of Artichoke as it is today. An alliance with say AGDA (or similar) and a greater degree of editorial real estate allocated to the GD profession could prove to be just what the industry is after?

Design Victoria recently published a report indicating that there needs to be more emphasis on the cross-disciplinary nature of the various design professions so this could also be a way to tackle that, rather than reinventing the wheel entirely? Just my thoughts.

Have you looked at making one yourself Michael? It seems to be something you are very passionate about, maybe it is even something AIF could look at doing as a whole even if it was produced like 3 monthly or something.

Heya Jen: Ace idea. How cool would it be if Artichoke developed some sort of affiliation with AGDA. Not only could they increase their page count but they might then be brave enough to find new audiences outside Australia to promote Australian design to. I hope someone there is listening (fingers crossed).

James: Stranger things have happened.