magazine into #2

Magazine Into is a new independent design magazine from China, published by Subfictions. The magazine focuses on exploring the design industry in China, a recent sector that, with no small effort, is now developing.

The name, Into, was chosen because it is a preposition representing a state but also a trend, a being in it without yet having arrived.
Not the classic design magazine.

The second issue of into "almost famous" mainly focuses on young designers who are still struggling to be noticed.  The unique Chinese culture and social background brings on chances as well as positive information, but it also put them in an environment of confusion and challenges. Young designers are on the process of searching what they want from design, and trying to find a balance between self-realization and reality.

We designed two supplemental magazines for this issue.  The first one "sponge puzzle" was created by Yin Zha, it contains puzzles that can be mixed and matched casually.  Another one "sketchbook" presents the process of a material design project from which we can have a glance of how different materials are combined into a piece of art. "sketchbook" is an explanation of young designers' daily job as well.

Magazine into has formed a clear standard after making the issue "MADE-LAND". We now have a clearer view on deciding topics for our magazine. What into wants to show is the distinctiveness of our generation and the current state of China. Design is just an entrance to this. The design industry in China is so special, and it makes China designers embody a sense of fragmentation. These designers explore self-value and the balance between external environment and reality on the paths of self-realization.

The growth of designers is a grand topic.  In this issue, we have divided our magazine into four parts: "Young Ones", "Stayin' Alive"," A System","Common Sense". We discuss designers' life from different perspectives of views.

The five young designers in part 1 are in the first interviewee list of "almost famous". We also let our interviewees prepared questions to ask overseas designers they are interested in, and into team would help them to gain the answers from designers. What we found in this process is the obvious differences of culture. But all these differences finally lead to the same destination. Overseas designers are also curious about whether Chinese designers face the same problem as them.