The Typofiles #95: Monster Children Magazine
While I was in Phoenix a few weeks ago, I made a stop at Barnes & Noble for some much needed editorial inspiration to fuel a few upcoming print projects. While perusing the magazine racks, I came across Monster Children, a beautifully designed Australian title with an emphasis on skateboarding, photography, surfing and music.
Though my lifestyle doesn’t necessarily align with the Monster Children demographic, the use of negative space on the cover immediately caught my attention. As I flipped through the issue, I was equally wowed by the sparse yet creative page layouts. The editorial design was so beautiful that I felt like I was flipping through a book.
As budgets for many periodicals continually shrink, a lot of magazines these days don’t put the effort into composing creative layouts like they used to but Monster Children is a huge exception. Even the page numbers look great! If you get a chance, pick up this magazine. After all, beauty is often in the details.
Tags: Graphic Design, The Typofiles
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17 People have left comments on this post
:0o :: my expression :: I don’t know what I want more: those shoes or that magazine!!… who am I kidding, definitely those shoes!! But that magazine!! :: swoon ::
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Nubby Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 6:46 pm
Lizzy: I love your response! A girl after my own heart!!
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Yay I’m glad you found Monster Children. it’s one of the best magazines Australia has to offer, the typography and editorial layouts are always superb and the way they talk about the products they are advertising is always entertaining.
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Nubby Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 6:46 pm
Kazz: That makes me want to read it even more! Sadly, I haven’t had a chance to actually sit down and read the articles yet but it’s all so visually stunning.
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LOVE monster children! glad you found it! ps, shoes are amazing
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Nubby Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 6:45 pm
tahnee: I am so glad I found it too. I haven’t been this excited about the design of a magazine in such a long time. So inspired by their layouts!
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Yep. I saw MC last year when my local newsstand didn’t have the latest issue of a photography magazine I was after. I love magazines and wanted to buy one anyway. I was immediately drawn to MC because it is landscape! After flicking through and seeing such gorgeous use of negative space, type, colour, and layout, I grabbed it, even though most of its content is of no particular interest to me. And the lovely stock! I was hooked! So glad you found it. And the shoes, oh my gosh, the shoes. <3
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Ah Monster Children is awesome.
It’s so refreshing to see something different to everything else on the shelf…
You should check out Movement Mag too! It’s an Australian bodyboarding mag but their design is rad.
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Nubby Reply:
January 26th, 2012 at 1:41 pm
Sian: Agreed. What really caught my attention was the landscape format. Seeing such fresh design is so inspiring…I hope I can find future MC issues in Portland so I can keep supporting what they’re doing!
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I don’t buy Monster Children regularly anymore but it’s always the first magazine I flip through when I stop by the newsagent. The design has always been consistent yet interesting. You should check out (Art Director) Campbell Milligan’s other work: http://www.campbellmilligan.com/
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Nubby Reply:
January 26th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
Lucinda: Thanks so much for the link…I just went through CM’s entire portfolio and I am officially in love with his work. Soooo inspiring.
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Oh dear sweet lord!! THOSE SHOOOES!!! I had a giant jewelry inspiration blast when I saw those shoes!! If the idea I have works out, I’ll send you the finished product!!! Now I need to scour the world for pleather in black and white and hope my mini singer machine can sew through it!!
<3 Melinda
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Nubby Reply:
January 26th, 2012 at 1:39 pm
Melinda: Haha! I love it. Inspiration is lurking everywhere!
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I’ve just added Monster Children to my list of must-buys next time I’m at B&N. Thanks!
Also, thanks Lucinda for linking to Campbell Milligan’s site- can’t wait to explore his other work.
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I buy Monster Children all the time. I have no interest in surfing or skating but I’ve loved their design for years!
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Monster Children is an awesome mag. I’m not that into skating or surfing but their presentation is just amazing. Sometimes I buy purely for the typography. Its landscape portrayal as opposed to the more classical portrait style is great. A lot of australian places that stock it hate it, because of its landscape cover. Living in Aus is made better by MC
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