Slanted Magazine

The book-like Slanted is the print extension of the Slanted.de blog, now a major European portal and forum for news and debate about design and typography.

The highly collectable and comprehensive biannual magazine began life in 2005 to complement the blog with a survey of typography, graphic design, illustration and photography. Each issue has related to special theme or topic; the first 20 issues focused on specific typographic classifications but from issue 21 onwards Slanted Magazine now examines typographical and designs in relation to different countries and cities.

About Slanted 44, 'TYPE FASHION', from the publisher:

Slanted Magazine 44 explores the intersection of typography and fashion. The issue explores the boundaries of conventional design, embracing cutting-edge typography as a dynamic canvas for fashion expression. It presents art pieces, conceptual works, unconventional positioning, bold messages, weird concepts, and off-road applications that challenge the status quo of fashion industries.

If Slanted were a fashion brand, our mission would be clear: to inform, provoke, and ignite the imagination—championing freedom, research, and creativity, where fantasy becomes reality, aspirations are achieved, and culture is constantly evolving.

In addition to showcasing outstanding works, this issue features insightful essays by Christina Donoghue, Ann Marie Wainscott, Graphéine, Jelena Drobac, Ian Lynam, Jimmy Henderson, Kylièn Bergh, and Karmen Samson. Furthermore, interviews with Golnar Kat-Rahmani, Mirko Borsche, Jochen Smuda and Martin Fussenegger (Ucon Acrobatics), as well as Jean-Baptiste Levée, provide valuable insights into the intersection of typography and fashion. The issue concludes with an extensive appendix, listing all participating contributors.

During the NEED conference in Warsaw in early September 2023, the Ukrainian delegation motivated the Slanted team to initiate a magazine dedicated to the Ukrainian design sphere, advocating that “better now than never!” Without their invaluable assistance, input, and valor, such an endeavor would have been inconceivable. The editorial policy refrains from producing issues centered on a city or country if physical presence isn’t feasible, as the essence of a place cannot truly be captured from a distance. However, with each new connection established, the palpable tension among individuals becomes increasingly apparent, underscoring the universal impact of current circumstances.

The sheer volume of nearly 1,500 submissions was overwhelming, and the selection process inherently subjective. Despite meticulous deliberations, every decision, formulation, and work runs the risk of being perceived as flawed, insufficient, or misunderstood. The compilation features 20 interviews with designers and creatives both within and beyond Ukraine, offering diverse insights, responses, and perspectives.

Many of the showcased works and texts reflect upon the ongoing war, which has persisted for over two years. Despite this, there remains a glimmer of hope for its resolution, with a collective aspiration for design discourse to eventually transition to other topics. This issue serves as a significant contemporary time capsule, a testament to the profound impact of design, and an expression of Slanted Publishers’ unwavering commitment to this cause.