Great editorial design does not require vast resources but rather a clear vision and an understanding of how design can elevate content. This is what great designers do.
Simon Esterson is one of the most influential figures in British magazine design, shaping the field for decades with his distinctive approach to editorial work.
Unlike many designers who built their careers within major publishing houses, Esterson chose a different path, gravitating toward independent publishing where his influence could be greater and his contributions more impactful. This decision allowed him to play a key role in fostering a rich culture of design-led publications.
His early work at Blueprint, the legendary British design and architecture magazine, set the stage for a career that would lead him to The Guardian, The Sunday Times of London, and the Italian architecture magazine, Domus, before establishing his own London-based studio, Esterson Associates.
Today, Esterson’s most visible project is Eye, the internationally renowned journal of graphic design. As its art director and co-owner, he has been instrumental in maintaining its reputation as one of the most essential platforms for design professionals.
Thanks to his nonstop editorial work, Esterson is widely considered to be a mentor and role model for generations of British designers, proving that great editorial design does not require vast resources but rather a clear vision and an understanding of how design can elevate content.
That’s what great designers do.
Read the full episode transcript here.
Print Is Dead (Long Live Print!) is a podcast about magazines and the people who made (and make) them. Magazines that combined thought-provoking attitudes and values with a distinctive look and feel, and cast a long and powerful shadow on American culture and public discourse. Hear stories and learn lessons from legendary designers, editors, writers, publishers, photographers, illustrators, photo editors, and more—stories and lessons that capture a magical history of innovation and inspiration, and that point the way forward. We’ll go deep into the lives and careers of this astonishingly talented group of creators, and tease out what these giants—past and present—have to teach the next generation of creators.
If you’re in the magazine business—if you’re in any business focused on content creation—this podcast is for you.
This episode is made possible by PIDLLP sponsors Commercial Type, Mountain Gazette, and Freeport Press.
The team behind Print is Dead (Long Live Print!) also produces The Full Bleed, a podcast about the future of magazines and the magazines of the future.
The post This is What Happens When You Have Graphic Design | Simon Esterson appeared first on PRINT Magazine.