8 Faces, First Impressions

8 Faces is a new project headed by Elliot Jay Stocks, which contains interviews with typographers who create or use type in compelling ways. The first run of 1000 copies sold out in a matter of hours but anyone can do what I did and buy a PDF version. The magazine is planned for bi-annual release and will be a regular addition to my bookshelf, digitally in this case.

The design of the 8 Faces is definitely great, clean layout with wonderful full color photographs. The content is where I had the greatest surprise. The interviews with these luminaries of the field are not that different from what you might find online but isolated in a magazine rather than in series of blog posts with ads and other distractions running along the side really make a difference. I can’t say much more than it really is a pleasure to sit down and read through the PDF on the iPad, and in a way that I have not achieved online. I highly recommend anyone interested in the design field or typography generally to do the same. 8 Faces does a much superior job than the regular industry publications, I’m looking at you Print and HOW, at tickling the inspiration center in my designer brainer.