Mohawk Blog

The Recorder: Reimagined, Redesigned + Relaunched

Words
Diane O'Connor
Photography
Emma Tucker + Luke Tonge
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This month typography and design fans globally have heralded the relaunch of The Recorder. Originally published in 1902 as a method to highlight the history of typography and products used within the industry,  The Recorder was primarily known as a trade magazine until the early 1970’s. Now, with a brilliant redesign and relaunch, it celebrates the relevancy of type in today’s culture.

Luke Tonge of Life Agency, serves as Art Director. A self-described type nerd, Tonge states, “As a designer, the opportunity to work on a typographical publication,  and to reinvent it from scratch, was a dream project.”

With a fresh approach to typography, content is fashioned to speak to a broad audience.  According to Tonge, the goal of the relaunch was to provide “cultural context, to show how type fits into pop culture, show how people are using type today (wood, letterpress, etc.)  and to share designer opinions about type. We want to make type more accessible to people, and appealing to non-designers as well.”

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Edited by Emma Tucker, who aptly fills the shoes of the Recorder’s original editor-in-chief, Beatrice Warde, Issue One pays homage to the storied history of the publication, while celebrating the role type plays in modern culture.

“The first new issue features both the heritage of typography, and its contemporary application, focusing on how designers have used and responded to type, and how its influence has played a role in our culture and daily lives. We’ve explored traditional forms of working with type as well as the way a new generation of designers are interpreting type’s role, and the way people respond to it.”

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The entire issue is printed on Mohawk Superfine Eggshell Ultrawhite, with a foil blocked cover, spot colors, and two fold out sections.

Tonge explains the selection of Superfine as the canvas for The Recorder, “When spec’ing the Recorder we aimed for the highest quality, so we commissioned exceptional illustrators, our page count was increased to 120, we included multiple throw-outs, a huge foil-blocked front & back cover masthead, 2 eye-popping spot colours, a beautiful stitched binding and, best of all, Mohawk Superfine Ultrawhite paper throughout.”

He continues, “Anyone who knows their stock knows Superfine is one of the best papers on the planet, so partnering with Mohawk and utilising Superfine was the best result imaginable, and vital to achieving such a well crafted publication. The finish of the magazine has been widely praised – and we’re all delighted with how well it holds the ink, how well it handles, and even how good it smells!”

“Anyone who knows their stock knows Superfine is one of the best papers on the planet, so partnering with Mohawk and utilising Superfine was the best result imaginable, and vital to achieving such a well crafted publication. The finish of the magazine has been widely praised – and we’re all delighted with how well it holds the ink, how well it handles, and even how good it smells!”
Luke Tonge
Life Agency
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According to Tucker, “The UK has experienced a resurgence of independent magazines; it’s a growing industry and consumers are supporting very high quality, beautiful, independent publications that are shorter run.  So, The Recorder relaunch comes at a really good time…a very exciting time to get back in to publishing. So much is happening online, it’s nice to go back to see how beautiful type and print looks.”

Production Notes

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Print Process
Foil Stamping
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Offset Printing
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bindary
Bindery
Perfect Bound
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Materials Used

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