210. From Vision to Print: The Birth of Pattern Magazine

We made a bet on beauty, permanence, and the tactile magic of print in a fast-paced, digital-first world, and that bet became Pattern Magazine, a 120-page quarterly print publication designed to inspire, inform, and live on your studio table for years to come. In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of exactly how we brought it to life, from the first spark of an idea to holding the finished magazine in our hands.

I share the research that convinced us print is thriving, including how tactile experiences build trust, create emotional connection, and stand the test of time, and why now felt like the perfect moment to bring something slower and deeply human into the world. You’ll hear the full eight-stage roadmap we used, starting with defining the vision and structuring the content into four intentional sections, creating editorial guidelines, budgeting and planning expenses, and choosing the right printer. I talk through the details of working with contributors, designing for print with templates and direction documents, and preparing for a thoughtful launch.

You’ll also hear the challenges we faced, from moments of overwhelm to the uncertainty of stepping into an industry we knew nothing about, and the lessons that kept us moving forward: you don’t have to know everything before you start, you just have to care deeply and be willing to learn along the way.

If you’ve ever dreamed of creating your own printed piece, whether that’s a magazine, workbook, or other tangible publication, this episode will give you a clear framework to follow and the encouragement to bring your vision to life. And to make it easier, I’m sharing a free resource: our Printing Inquiry Email Template & Vendor List, with the exact email we used to reach out to printers and the list of vendors we contacted.

Pattern Magazine is our love letter to analogue and to print.

Key Takeaways

• Print is not only alive but growing, offering trust, connection, and permanence in a digital-heavy world.
• Start with a clear vision and purpose; it becomes your compass for every decision.
• Structure your content intentionally to create an engaging flow and reader experience.
• Clear editorial guidelines save time, ensure consistency, and make collaboration smoother.
• You don’t need to know everything before you start; curiosity and persistence will carry you forward.

Recommended Resources

• Pattern Magazine

FOLLOW, RATE, OR REVIEW! 

Review of the week: 

LISTENING TREASURE

Listening is a must for anyone dreaming big and following their unique path to a creative life! Prepare to be uplifted, equipped with tools to level up, and feel a little less alone 🌻

— LyricsShouldntDoAllTheTalking

READ THE TRANSCRIPT

Quick Disclosure: This post may include some affiliate links which means that if you click the link to purchase something on this page, it won't cost you more but I may receive a commission for sharing this with you. Which is great, because I was going to share it with you anyway!