10 graphic design magazines for every creative that offer physical copies if you choose to subscribe or browse through older issues.
Well, yes, everything’s digital these days, and it’s very easy to access your sources online. But on the other hand, nothing quite beats the feeling of flipping through the glossy pages of a physical design magazine. It’s a great way to unplug, discover new trends, and get that creative energy flowing again. It’s also a much more personal experience.
And if you feel the same way, this list may be exactly what you need. I chose 10 global design magazines with valuable insights, creative showcases, and trend forecasting that are perfect for every creative AND they offer physical copies if you choose to subscribe or browse through older issues.
These magazines are diverse and some focus more on abstract ideas, while others on specific topics such as graphic design, typography, branding, web design, and digital culture. So there’s a lot to choose from.
1. Wallpaper**
Best for: Designers and creative directors.
Content: Architecture, interior design, product design, fashion, and contemporary art.
Country of Origin: UK
Subscription Options: Print + digital, digital-only, or print-only
Since 1996, Wallpaper has been a favorite among designers who want to stay updated on the latest trends in architecture, interiors, fashion, and even tech. Each issue has amazing high-quality visuals and interesting stories that do cultural commentary on the future of design. For example, last year they published the piece “Vivid Dreams” about a”living painting” at New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) that uses AI to study the museum’s collection.
Wallpaper has also started Handmade, an annual event that’s now in its 13th year. For this exhibition, designers and makers are asked to create unique pieces that bring the ideas and style from the magazine to life. It’s a cool mix of design and craftsmanship.
Why you’ll love it:
If you want something that delivers new ideas without rehashing the same old content, Wallpaper is perfect. It’s full of fresh perspectives and often goes into more abstract and futuristic topics.
2. The Modernist
Best for: Graphic designers.
Content: Modernist architecture, design, and visual culture,mid-century aesthetics, and the history of modern design.
Country of Origin: UK
Subscription Options: Print subscription (quarterly issues)
Do you like clean lines, thoughtful design, and architecture that makes you pause? If your answer is Yes, then The Modernist is a must-read. This UK-based publication covers everything from architecture to graphic design and cultural history. What’s really cool is how it brings urban and rural design together. Plus, the layout’s unique, with pages that fold out like concertina spreads, making the architecture feel like it’s jumping off the page.
For example, issue 52 looks at brutalism and the architecture built during the Cold War, particularly nuclear facilities. It covers how modernist design influenced these buildings, reflecting the time’s political and technological atmosphere, which is a great read.
Why you’ll love it:
If you’re into mid-century design and architecture, The Modernist is a gem. It blends past and present, showing how history shapes today’s design.
3. CommArts
Best for: Agencies and creatives.
Content: Graphic design, advertising, illustration, photography, and digital media
Country of Origin: USA
Subscription Options: Print + digital or digital-only
CommArts (short for Communication Arts) is a classic when it comes to design magazines. It’s been around since 1959 and has built a strong reputation for showcasing the best in graphic design, illustration, advertising, and more. It has design inspiration, helpful insights, and case studies that show what’s working in the design world right now. You’ll find a mix of everything.
You’ll find full case studies that break down branding projects (for a luxury fashion label, for example) that give you practical insights into how the designers made the branding stand out.
Why you’ll love it:
CommArts is awesome for covering a variety of creative fields, which is perfect for any creative team inspiration. It also shows you what excellence really looks like and constantly pushes you to level up your own work.
4. IdN Magazine
Best for: Designers and creatives
Content: Graphic design, motion design, experimental visuals, and global design inspiration
Country of Origin: Hong Kong, China
Subscription Options: Print subscription (bimonthly issues)
IdN is this awesome magazine out of Hong Kong, but don’t worry, everything’s in English. It dives into everything from motion graphics to product design and aims to bring creative folks from all over the world together. It’s definitely one of the boldest design mags out there, it pulls together graphic design to motion design, typography, and illustration. As an example, you can find articles that dive into motion graphics and all the new, exciting directions it’s heading in, explaining how and why certain trends are changing.
Why you’ll love it:
If you like your design inspiration to feel a little different and global, IdN is your best bet. It has the full-page creative visuals you would expect from a high-quality magazine and lots of graphic design inspiration and trends.
5. GDUSA
Best for: Branding pros and graphic designers
Content: Industry news, trends, and case studies
Country of Origin: USA
Subscription Options: Free digital edition, print available by request
GDUSA (short for Graphic Design USA, since 1963 ) is known for covering industry news, trends, and case studies in branding, graphic design, and packaging, all while giving designers a peek into what’s working right now.
Why you’ll love it:
It keeps it real with industry updates, trends, and insights that feel helpful, and not overwhelming. It also holds some great annual awards, like the GDUSA Package Awards, where you get to see amazing examples of packaging design.
6. Hi-Fructose
Best for: Artists, illustrators, Graphic designers
Content: Contemporary, pop surrealism, unconventional and underground art
Country of Origin: USA
Subscription Options: Print subscription (quarterly issues)
Hi-Fructose is a fun and quirky art magazine that brings attention to the weird and wonderful side of contemporary art. It features artists who are a bit outside the norm. The small but passionate California-based team covers everything from pop surrealism to underground art, with a glimpse into the more unusual corners of the art world. This magazine really needs to be experienced in print.
If you’re interested and want to see some visual examples of the magazine, here’s a sneak peek at some of the issues.
Why you’ll love it:
If you’re into art that’s a bit strange and really colorful, Hi-Fructose is perfect. Each issue dives into the world of artists with big personalities and bold ideas, showing some seriously unique work.
7. Type 01
Best for: Type lovers, branding pros
Content: Typography, type design, and font culture
Country of Origin: UK
Subscription Options: Print subscription (biannual issues)
Type 01 is a UK-based mag that’s a dream for anyone obsessed with fonts. Since it started in 2017, it’s become the source of inspiration for all things type: how fonts are made, and how they influence branding and culture. The magazine shows the work of talented type designers, and new font releases, and even talks about what typography could look like in the future.
Why you’ll love it:
If you love fonts and lettering, Type 01 is totally your thing. It gets you thinking about how they fit into design and how they work with a brand.
8. Slanted
Best for: Designers Graphic designers, typography designers
Content: Typography, international design trends, and creative processes
Country of Origin: Germany
Subscription Options: Print subscription (biannual issues)
This one is biannual and its focus is on graphic design, typography, and the creative culture of different places around the world. Each issue goes into full detail about the design scene of a specific city or country, the local art, and the designers behind it. On top of the magazine, Slanted also runs a type foundry and publishes art and design books.
Why you’ll love it:
It has awesome design with broken experimental layouts and typography, AND you also get to experience design scenes from around the world, like Rwanda, Prague, and Tokyo.
9. 3×3 Magazine
Best for: Illustrators, graphic designers, and creative leads
Content: Illustration and visual storytelling
Country of Origin: USA
Subscription Options: Print + digital or digital-only
3×3 Magazine is the first magazine to really focus on contemporary illustration. It’s an amazing resource for illustrators and graphic designers because it shows the best in illustration from around the world, and it also gives them space to share their work. The magazine has a clear mission: it wants to archive the best of modern illustration, support illustrators, and get more people to use illustration in published media.
On top of the magazine, they run competitions and events like the 3×3 International Illustration Awards Show, which gives artists a great chance to get recognized.
Why you’ll love it:
If you’re into illustration, you’ll find so much to love here: a mix of different styles from talented artists all over the globe, or tips on things such as different watercolor techniques.
10. Idea
Best for: Designers and creative studios
Content: Graphic design, editorial design, typography, Japanese design inspiration
Country of Origin: Japan
Subscription Options: Print subscription (quarterly issues)
The last magazine I really want to recommend (as someone who particularly loves and appreciates Japanese art, graphic design, and culture in general) is Idea. This magazine was published for the first time in 1953, and it’s one of those magazines that really hits differently. It blends both local Japanese design and global trends.
A cool example is their Arabic Typography piece from an old issue by Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFarès. This one digs into the growing impact of Arabic letters in the design world, showing off some seriously impressive work from Arabic-speaking designers.
It’s also bilingual, with most of the content in Japanese, but a lot of it is also in English, so you can still read it confidently. It also has a very cool design with a creative use of colors, paper, and design that makes it feel like a special collectible each time you get your hands on it. Of course, the magazine is available worldwide via the official Idea website, or via the Worldshape distributor’s website.
Why you’ll love it:
If you’re someone who enjoys learning about different design styles, or if you’re looking at the best design work from Japan and cultures outside of the Western world.
And there you have it! These magazines are too different, but the list makes it easy to choose the best ones for you depending on if you’re into the latest trends or learning about design in other cultures. All of them are high-quality offer great content, and most importantly, offer the experience of holding a physical copy instead of just scrolling through a screen.
