James Cartwright – »Rethink«
Narrative density, exploration and discovery, in combination with excellent user-friendly design and content describes the work of James Cartwright. As editor of Printed Pages, a magazine of art and design, he demonstrates this attitude consistently in print and web media. The website of the magazine, »It's Nice That« offers a very interesting mix of diverse content. Intelligently told and exciting stories about exhibitions and events, portraits of people, weekly podcasts and videos are incorporated into »It's Nice That«, which plays with every imaginable form of narrative digital publishing.
The launch of the magazine was anything but easy. Despite interesting content covering photography, graphic design, art and culture, Cartwright was faced with a significant problem. »Nobody bought it«. For almost two years, the designer paused with his magazine. Then »Printed Pages« - a printed offshoot of the actual project, was born. »Printed Pages« is much more than just a derivative of what Cartwright and his team presented on the website. The printed magazine is also a statement focusing on quality, a commitment to a clear separation between the online world and its content and stories in print form. »We distinguish very clearly between what we do, where, and in what form.«
In the meantime "Printed Pages" and Cartwright have changed and further developed their ›backbone‹. To clarify, unusual stories, persuasive, aesthetic details in photo spreads, illustrations and design reflect the idea of a ›backbone‹, an idea central to a magazine, which is also an expression of the particular attitude of its maker. Individuality, emotional and intimate perspectives in image and text suggest a viable future for »Printed Pages« as well as for its mothership, »It's Nice That.« The different media channels confirming the old adage that the whole is more than the sum of its parts.
