We chat to Will Reuben and Holly Moxham the Co-founders of 34minus1 —a magazine showcasing work from Erasmus students. They explain how the collective formed as a result of Brexit, we get a little snippet of advice from the whole team, and they give us the low-down on their favourite magazines from around the globe.
*Give us the elevator pitch on what you do. *
We are an independent collective from London living in Berlin, concerned with our potential departure from the Erasmus Scheme as a result of Brexit. We are creating this magazine to prove to the EU why we should keep the relationship alive and to celebrate the projects that have been made possible because of it.
How does the local culture of where you live affect your design work and getting clients?
Berlin is one of the cultural creative hubs of Europe, so naturally we were all drawn to this location. It’s easy to feel inspired living in such a vibrant city and this diversity ensures our work stays relevant and engaging. We also feel that because it’s such a creative hub, there is more than enough work to go around. This also means that competition is high but there’s definitely work to suit everyone.
Who are your top five design crushes globally right now?
1. Spector Books - All the work coming from these publishers is stunning, they have an amazing selection of interesting topics and books to collect.
2. Our.Place Studio Contra Journal #01 - This magazine has been designed in such a way to aid your attention towards the content. It’s clear, well considered and engaging. For such an important topic, this is substance with style.
3. Actual Source Shoplifters #08 - This is a huge encyclopedia of contemporary type design, to sum the book up in a few words I would say: inspirational; thick and juicy.
4. Migrant Journal - A creative and slick way of spreading knowledge and educating people about current issues! I like migrant because it takes news and makes it visually stimulating.
5. République Studio - Their art direction and design for Playboy France has elevated it to an elegant magazine enabling views from people who wouldn’t have been interested before.
What’s your take on internships? (Do you take interns now?)
In our opinion, internships are invaluable in accessing different areas of the industry and from each internship, you gain more and more specific knowledge in order to understand how, why and for whom you want to work with. Don’t forget to value yourself and notice when you’re getting exploited. We would also say money isn't everything, but consider where you’re putting your energy.
As classic as it sounds… ‘Always trust your gut’. It really does work.
What's the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
We think that it would be good for people to hear a piece of advice from the whole team so here you are :)
Will Reuben: As classic as it sounds… ‘Always trust your gut’. It really does work
Holly Moxham: Don’t stress out when you’re young and take every opportunity which comes your way.
Megan Barclay: Work with your friends now and one day they might actually pay you (lol my dad actually has stories to back this up)
George Davison: Sharing ideas will only make them better and getting feedback whether negative or positive will push any project forward
Alex Hayes: If you want a job done properly, do it yourself.
Eugene Caines: It’s just a ride, enjoy it.
Who’s on the team, what are their roles and why do you love them?
WR: There is George Davison and Holly Moxham who alongside myself are in charge of the magazine’s design. Alex Hayes and Megan Barclay mainly focus on content curation and social media and then Eugene Caines who takes responsibility for External Promotion. It works coherently and effectively to have specific roles whilst working on a project like this and I personally love all of them because of their snack choices.
