How has the magazine been going since you spoke at the conference?
It's growing. We've always grown through word of mouth... People keep 'passing it on', telling others, blogging about it and discovering it in their own way. That way it's personal and that's the way we like it. We've recently signed a two-year international distribution deal which is pretty exciting so now people in Iceland and Tonga will be able to find the Feather too.
Has the magazine changed in anyway? Describe it now days
The design and feel of Dumbo feather hasn't changed a lot... I always wanted to create something that didn't have to change with fads or fashion, that was classic and enduring. I think great design should be like that. That said, Jim Parry (Dumbo feather's art director) keeps doing amazing things with type and images within the established template of the mag. Editorially I'm trying to make give the content a bit more of an international flavour given our audience is more and more going to be coming from distant lands... But still the same mix of remarkable individuals taking the road-less-trampled with guts, creativity and integrity - that'll never change.
Any other personal projects you have been working on recently?
Oh to have the time! I've guest edited a few other publications and e-newsletters like Lost and Found, Three Thousand... I've had quite a few speaking gigs which I really enjoy... I've got a dozen or so other publishing projects in my head, but they're ok there for now.
What area does your magazine concentrate on?
It doesn't really... in each issue we feature 5 really indepth interviews with fascinating folk. They come from all sorts of backgrounds and industries - some designers, some inventors, spies, architects, winemakers, film makers, artists, entrepreneurs... I think it's that breadth that makes it really interesting. A reader might pick up a copy because they want to read about Jimmy Wales and how he starte Wikpedia, but then also get to know all about the art of taxidermy through reading Julia deVille's interview too. |