Pilot Magazine

Auckland based Pilot magazine fits the bill perfectly in Renards world of the stylepress, exclusively available in a large, elegant quarterly printed edition with varying stocks, containing showcases of illustration, graphic design, photography and fashion, reflected and enhanced through graphic design and typography. Pickering himself was quoted on twitter (earlier post) emphasising the importance of the creators input into the magazine rather than meeting current market demands. This philosophy fits with Renards view of the stylepress as a self-indulgent mission for the creator, that becomes transformative and inspiring for the reader through the input of creative ideas. I'm increasingly finding this self-indulgent design an important theme throughout stylepress magazines of all formats. By being designed in this way, the magazine becomes more of an artists object, freed from client or market demand restrictions, to be appreciated on a creative level, the creative team charging the work with their ideas and philosophies, the design and editorial team become more like fine artists, and the magazines become the visual manifestos for these editorial artists. 

"Issue 6... another artistic, intelligent mixed bag of all the wonderful things creator Andy Pickering is into."


"It isn't really a magazine. It's more like a coffee table book of design, fashion, art, photography and ideas, or a time capsule of contemporary culture. I highly recommend you get a copy." - NZ design blog

These quote from NZ design blogs reviews of issues 5 and 6 of Pilot give credit to the self indulgence of the stylepress, proving that it is valued by the reader and providing insight into the reviewers relationship with the object, consistent with the audience relationships seen in previous research.

Analysis

(Issue 04) Spec: 240 pages
 CMYK + Metallic, 3 stock
Published: Quarterly
Format: Perfect bound
Price: NZ$15
Content: Articles + interviews, heavily image based
Note: Still a fairly young magazine, pilot has some advertising and is more than likely faces restrictions in price.

Social networks: Twitter, blog

Renards Stylepress Features

Experienced based design: 4.5/5
Ideas over content: 5/5
Timeless experience: 5/5
Self-expression over market demand: 5/5