Bye Bye Grafik

Top notch UK graphic design magazine Grafik has closed.

Falling prey to the economic crisis, another of our favourite designcentric publications closed this week. The independently published, monthly graphic design magazine, Grafik, was a pioneer of of the design community – a loyal servant and dear friend. Grafik showcased the cream of both cutting edge and commercial graphic design.

A recent posting on the Grafik website said “unfortunately we are unable to print the magazine for the foreseeable future” amidst reports that the owners of its publisher, Adventures in Publishing, have liquidated the company.

Our memories will live long for Grafik. Afterall, Grafik was right there at the start of my own induction into the design industry (some 12+ years ago). Days when juniors were sent by train to the printers, bromide in hand. Grafik was also faithfully beside me, in easy reach and prime position on my desk alongside my (now) retro iMac, stack of briefs and that ever-changing studio schedule, the day we had ISBN installed in the studio of the first design agency I worked in… we were the epitomy of cutting edge agencies!

Indeed the days when CD’s were new – and expensive – burning artwork to disc was highly chargeable, not the norm (as it is nowadays). Designers and artworkers aspired to have their work feature on the pages of Grafik mag, those heavy stock pages, printed to the highest lithographic calibre; crisp, vibrant and unparalleled. Each design output rich in tints, spot uv and to an impeccable standard. A standard that Grafik imposed on the industry. One that we held in high esteem and adhered to with complete respect. Ah, the good ol’ days!

RIP Grafik Magazine. Bye bye dear friend, we’ll be loyally waiting when the time comes that you should rise again. For now, we’ll reminisce about the good times and cherish those old copies stacked on the studio shelves.

Back copies of Grafik are still available in their online shop, gets yours before they are gone – forever. Buy here.