Fearless graphic design, editorial layouts that make stories burst off the page, and compelling visual storytelling every bit as bold as the journalism. A radically innovative approach that feels like an instant classic. A toolkit for standout print media. The Intelligent Lifestyle Magazine is the first comprehensive look at the editorial philosophy and design process behind IL – Ideas and Lifestyle magazine. Published by Gestalten and co-penned with Christian Rocca, the title tells, from an insider’s perspective, the story of how IL’s consistent visual and journalistic quality developed. Numerous examples are used to explain editorial concepts and branding elements. The book offers inspiration for art directors, designers, media professionals, and anyone who ever wished they could learn more about Italian IL magazine in English.

More about this book

IL’s art director Francesco Franchi and editor in chief Christian Rocca reveal the inside scoop with insights, examples, and anecdotes from the magazine’s foundation through to its ongoing groundbreaking run. The Intelligent Lifestyle Magazine illustrates how typography and infographics, illustration, deft branding, attention to detail, and human curiosity combine to create innovative, flourishing print media. This resource will inspire not only art directors, designers, and media professionals, but all who delight in pairing information with style.

Francesco Franchi, one of the most exceptional talents working in graphic design today, has been IL’s art director since 2008. Thanks to his distinctive visual concepts, the magazine has received worldwide acclaim and is widely considered to be a modern classic. In 2013, Gestalten published Franchi’s Designing News, which explores the future of the news and media industries in our digital age.

Christian Rocca is IL’s editor-in-chief and an expert on Italian and American politics. He appears regularly in Italian talk shows and on radio programs and has written several books, including one about Italy’s recent economic crisis. Since 2010, he has written a column on international politics for Il Sole 24 Ore. Previously he served as the American correspondent for Il Foglio.