I Love You Magazine - Berlin

My time in Berlin is coming to an end and there are many places and people still to see.

When spending an afternoon with Nancy, we visited AM 1-3 in Mitte. Three concept stores that are hidden from the public eye in a courtyard. Owned and managed by Andreas Murkudis (the brother of Kostas) the store was filled with items I wanted to buy (but unfortunately can't justify...think bags and jewellery). Finally working my way to the counter, I found something which was more within my price range and it immediately caught my eye - "I Love You" Magazine. Printed on rough sugar paper with rich vibrant colours, this was an impulse purchase I was more than willing to make.

After sitting down and devouring every page, I decided to email the editor and the next day I found myself discussing Berlin, design and publishing in a huge white space studio. The office is larger than any I've seen and represents the quality and high standard of living you can get in Berlin.

I sat down with Stefanie and Christiane, who told me about their magazine.

"'I Love You' is a great project for us - we're graphic designers by trade, so this magazine our baby. We won't comprimise content with advertising we don't believe in and focus on quality. Many large magazines, especially in this economic climate, are at the mercy of the advertisers - we want to be able to do what we like, and in tern give our readers what they're really interested in seeing."

With a tagline like 'My Printed Blog', I wondered why print the magazine at all?

"We want to use every media for what it does best. I love design and photography, and this is portrayed well on paper. We love the feeling and the smell of paper. We do use the internet, but as an expension of what we do on paper. Videos, moving imagery and interaction. That's what the internet can provide."

I could see their thinking before I was even told. The whole reason I was attracted to the magazine was the physical aesthetic - to touch and flip through the pages. I do read a lot of blogs, but nothing can beat a magazine.

The best thing about going behind the scenes at a magazine, is the access to their back catalogue. My favourite issue is No. 3 - No Woman, No Life. I'm a huge fan of Mad Men and this issue tips it's hat to the fabulous Joan Holloway.

If you want to be taken seriously, stop dressing like a little girl! - Season 2, Ep. 6

"The whole magazine has kind of been created around this ideal. This is a magazine for real woman - no matter what age they are" - Christiane told me as our conversation came to a close.













With the closure of Borders on Buchanan Street, I'm still searching Glasgow for good International magazines. Luckily, I Love You is sold through their website.

The Princess Issue (no. 5) is out in September.

-- Jonathan