Merde Magazine confronts the problem with endless scrolling in recent issue

A title unafraid to be satirical and challenge convention

Every creative, regardless of capability or experience, will store images in forgotten folders. It’s an inevitable part of any creative process, as certain shots fail to make the final cut. 

The consumption and need for new media are constant, and a reason that some work goes unpublished, as creators think it’s necessary to share new ideas rather than revisit or post content from previous shoots.

Merde magazine challenges this problem in the latest issue – Archival Ephemera – as it celebrates the ‘perseverance of the printed page’ by showcasing unpublished archival images, test shoots, and undeveloped film.

Content

The editorials in this issue are theatrical, extravagant, and capture different themes throughout. They vary from a series that illustrates different decades throughout history to a risqué collection titled Porn Ladies.

To prolong the appreciation of the work, the editorials include QR codes that act as a portal to Merde’s website, for readers to explore behind-the-scenes photos. A harmonisation between print and digital that makes it possible for these once-forgotten or print-only pieces to be appreciated by a wider audience. 

An admirable part of Merde is the interviews, particularly with Emma-Jane Mackinnon-Lee, who is the founder of metaverse magazine DigiFizzy. It’s a creative decision that many publications would avoid, despite it being a celebration of print, as it would be interpreted as advertising for a competitor. The interview even includes a QR code that transports readers of Merde to DigiFizzy’s website. 

Cover 

Unlike most cover stars that feature in magazines, photographs of Bea Miller aren’t accompanied by a long – descriptive – tell-all – interview. Instead, readers can listen to If U Seek Amy by Britney Spears (available on Bea’s playlist via QR code) and read a handwritten Q&A. 

Although not the most informative, these design choices are more likely to maintain the attention of someone who is unfamiliar with the musician.  

Closing thoughts 

The pages of Merde are an unpredictable and authentic curation of work by deserving artists, designers, and creators. A reading experience that emphasises how important it is to appreciate ideas and work that took endless hours to create.

For a magazine marketed toward people who need something ‘distinct from the oversaturated stream of digital fashion news media and interact with the content rather than just look’ – this issue embodied all the components to achieve just that.

*Photographs from Merde magazine issue 06*