To say that I’m a lover of independent magazines is a little bit of an understatement (truth is, i’m addicted!), so the moment a new one pops up on my radar you know I’m going to be eager to rifle through its pages and see what delights are on offer.
My latest discovery is a magazine that hasn’t even hit the shelves yet, but is curated by a lovely lady I’ve had the pleasure of meeting out and about at various creative events in Manchester, so I just know it is going to be a goody!
As founder of LJB Studio, a Manchester-based design agency that specialises in highly crafted and thoughtful print design, Laura Jane Boast’s love of craftsmanship and attention to detail has enabled her to help numerous independent brands share their stories and engage with their customers. Laura has an undeniable passion for thoughtful, sustainable design and her new venture, annual magazine Design Giving, has been conceived to celebrate well-crafted products that inspire creativity, improve people’s lives and are kind to the planet.
This new publication strives to provide a platform for sharing and supporting independent designers and makers who create with a responsible and thoughtful ethos. The name Design Giving comes from the compression of the phrase ‘where design thinking becomes thoughtful giving’, a conceptual definition that describes a process and a way of designing that is more thoughtful and more considerate to both people and the planet.
I want to celebrate independent designers and makers who: design high-quality products that are the antithesis of throwaway, that carefully design to create less waste, support their local charities, and use materials with a lower environmental impact.
It's about sharing a passion for materials that make the world a better place to live, work and play.
As consumers we are all becoming more conscious of where products are made and what they are made from, and it is important that designers are equally clued in to this ethos. Design Giving wants to make thoughtful design more accessible not only to consumers looking to buy their next favourite product, but also more approachable to designers who looking to specify environmentally friendly print and products.
Issue 1 of the magazine features 68 pages of carefully selected and specially commissioned interviews and stories with both established and emerging independent designers and makers from various creative disciplines who share Laura’s passion for materials, invest time in slow decision-making, design high-quality products that are built to last, and use materials that are kinder to the planet.
The magazine itself will be printed on a combination of high-quality embossed, FSC certified, acid-free and recycled papers from G.F.Smith, with the front cover hot stamped in gold.
The publication is currently in the final week of a Kickstarter campaign to fulfil orders for the launch issue, with 20 wonderful rewards on offer.
All the rewards have been carefully designed and produced to a high standard, using quality materials and print processes that respect the planet, and include bespoke Jesmonite coasters by Nottingham-based Katie Gillies, handmade porcelain sculptures by Ende Ceramics, jewellery by Wild Fawn and jacquard weave cushions by Beatrice Larkin.
→You can support the Design Giving kickstarter campaign here.
All photography © Design Giving, used with permission.
One Response
Thank you for sharing this info! I have never heard about it, but seems like be something interesting to read! I love such inspo :-)
Corinna-Jana
https://looks-like-coja.com/