What You Know: Starting A Magazine Top Tips

Davina Ajana is the Founder and Creative Director of Sadé Magazine. Sadé Magazine is an independent quarterly print publication, created by Davina and her 10 year old daughter Sadé. Filled with empowering and inspiring content for Black girls 7+. Packed with lots of fun educational activities, interviews with award winning writers and illustrators, book reviews and so much more.

Each issue tackles current topics and events making sure all information shared is child-friendly. The content provided is by Sadé, who is the Editor in Chief . Sadé will be sharing her knowledge and learnings for other young Black girls to inspire by.

1. Start with your audience.

Most magazine projects are started out of passion for content. Trying to fill a gap in the publishing world. Your readership can be your biggest asset, they will be your biggest fan so creating a community is important.

Once you’ve decided on the audience then you can focus on brand and content. Treat your magazine like a product, magazines are part of a lifestyle.

2. Find inspiration around you

You can find creative inspiration everywhere. As a designer that’s the one thing I do whenever I begin a project. You don’t have to be a designer to be inspired, it’s free for all. If you have a few magazines around, start looking through those to get some inspiration.

3. Pick your title.

Choosing a title is personal and it needs to be thought about carefully. Consider brainstorming some names and think about the subjects you’ll be featuring. Browse what’s already out there & take your time. Think about it as a branding exercise, other than the magazine it will be featured on your website and social media platforms.

4. Print or Digital.

Why not both? It really depends on how you would like your content to be presented, I do feel there is room for both. Like most projects it depends on budget and time. Print is not dead! Many readers prefer a physical publication, to enjoy the feeling of flipping through the pages, something to collect over time. However digital magazines are convenient and can be read on multiple devices.

5. Choosing a Graphic Designer

Be clear about your creative brief, including details about your brand, the objectives of the project, and the specific qualifications you’re looking for. Graphic designers have different specialities so it’s important to find a designer that can create the vision you want. Take time to find the right person.

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