“We have full control over what we write about, how we lay out the story and how we juxtapose that story to typography and photography. It’s the kind of power we exploit to our full advantage.”

Trash the template. Skew the grid. Ruffle some feathers among the rule makers. Most importantly, keep your “viewership” coming back for more, seeking sensual stimulation and surprise as they journey through carefully crafted pages. This seems to be the general mindset among designers of artsy niche magazines like Theme and Clear, two pioneering publications that insist on doing things differently. They want print to be an experience, not just a good read.

The evolution of design technology—available to anyone who has the tools—mixed with an unwavering pursuit of creative freedom has given birth to these magazines, which resemble collectable artwork more than a series of glued pages.

—Jiae Kim, co-founder, Theme magazine