7 pieces of brand print editorial we’ve been loving recently

While digital channels remain central to most marketing strategies, print has increasingly become a medium through which brands explore ideas, culture and storytelling in a more considered way. A well-produced publication allows brands to explore ideas in greater depth, present their work in a cultural context, and build relationships with readers that extend beyond transactional needs.

Brand editorial can take many forms. Some publications adopt the tone of independent magazines, with long-form essays and interviews. Others function more as curated brand worlds, combining photography, storytelling and thoughtful design to express a company’s identity. Across these projects, the physical qualities of print such as paper choice, binding, layout and imagery, play a central role in shaping how the content is experienced.

In this article, we highlight several examples of brand print editorial that stood out to us in the last year.

1) Stripe: Works in Progress magazine

Stripe is a global financial infrastructure platform for online payments. They published Works in Progress, a magazine exploring economic growth, infrastructure, science and systems.

The magazine’s deeply researched long-form essays engage readers intellectually, allowing Stripe to earn authority through thought leadership. The physical format reinforces this intent. Clear data visualisation, calm typography and the magno gloss cover gives the publication a quality feel, alongside the magno satin text pages allowing for a smooth finish and enhancing readability. In the relatively functional world of payments, you could also argue that the decision to print a high-quality magazine helps to build an emotional connection with readers.

Stripe the payments firm maintains editorial distance in the magazine. After acquiring Works in Progress in 2022, the editors committed to avoiding subjects directly tied to Stripe’s commercial interests, and the brand has remained largely removed from editorial decision-making. The result is a publication many readers encounter without immediately associating it with a payments company, which may strengthen the credibility of the publication and improve its effectiveness as a piece of marketing

In a competitive fintech landscape, trust is currency. By demonstrating long-term thinking and intellectual independence, Stripe differentiates itself from more purely transactional competitors.

2) Cherry Bones magazine, from an independent coffee brand

Cherry Bones is a coffee magazine created by barista and coffee expert James Hoffmann. The publication acts as an extension of his personal brand, which already had a large digital audience.

The material choices of the magazine align well with the concept, magazine printed on premium paper stock Extract, which is made from recycled coffee cups. The gold foil detailing on the cover elevates the object, while vibrant illustration and careful layout make it feel crafted.

Because audiences already engage with Hoffmann online, print serves as an additional, premium tier of engagement. It gives the most dedicated followers a sense of ownership in the brand, strengthening Hoffman’s authority in the specialty coffee space and expanding his brand beyond YouTube and consultancy.

Read the Cherry Bones case study here.

3) Signal, corporate magazine printed by Microsoft

Signal is a magazine launched by Microsoft. It combines long-form essays, interviews and insights on innovation and technology adopting the tone of a business journal.

Arguably the most corporate of the ‘big 4’ technology companies, Microsoft is unlike many lifestyle or cultural brands that naturally extend into publishing the ‘business journal’ approach, therefore, may reflect the need to compete for enterprise software deals and strengthen brand affinity with senior decision-makers, who typically value high-quality, long-form content.

Refined typography, structured grids and heavy paper stocks echo established publications in this space.

Tech brands have done print magazines in the past, but these tend to be special editions or a limited number of issues. Examples include Facebook’s Grow, a magazine for business owners and Tik Tok’s Real Joy magazine, showcasing some of their most popular creators.

Signal’s success so far, three issues in, is promising, and helps to position Microsoft as a contributor to thinking rather than simply a provider of tools.

4) Dazed Maxx: magazine collaboration with Nike

Dazed Maxx is a collaboration between cultural publication Dazed and global sportswear brand Nike, blurring the line between editorial and brand communication. 

Interviews, photography and cultural commentary follows Nike’s longstanding brand positioning as a participant in contemporary culture, as well as a sportswear manufacturer. Additionally, collaboratively publishing with a widely-read indie will help Nike to tap a focused readership and tailor the content for this segment’s known traits and preferences.

The bold layouts, expressive typography and saturated colours within the magazine reflect the visual language of street culture. Heavier paper stocks and flat-opening binding allow photography to be experienced uninterrupted, displaying imagery as storytelling rather than decoration. 

5) Virtuoso: personalized magazine in luxury travel

Virtuoso is a leading luxury travel network. The brand’s global advisors distribute its print magazine directly to high-net-worth clientele. Unlike newsstand titles, this is a relationship-driven publication — delivered personally, often as part of a wider travel planning experience.

The cover uses Magno Art Gloss 250gsm, offering a smooth, premium surface for the destination photography. The same stock at 115gsm is used for the text pages, ensuring visual consistency throughout. 

Personalisation is central to its production. The cover is printed lithographically for the very best in vibrant imagery, then digitally overprinted with each advisor’s logo and return address — over 50 variations. The back cover is also personalised with the recipient’s address, eliminating the need for separate envelopes.

Virtuoso’s success as a travel brand lies in its boutique customer experience, and they support this through their print by curating aspiration for an exclusive audience. Personalisation reinforces trust, while the high production values reflect the quality of the travel experiences offered.

Read the Virtuoso case study here.

6)  Le Monde d’ Hermès N86: luxury fashion mag

Le Monde d’Hermès is the Hermes’ seasonal magazine, printed in France and spanning 128 pages. This magazine is a horizontal, top-bound format reminiscent of an artist’s sketchbook. It’s also printed on paper sourced from sustainably managed forests, on the lightweight stock that reinforces the art sketchbook feel.

The cover combines illustration and understated branding whilst inside, professional photoshoots sit alongside hand-drawn interpretations of the same scenes — merging fashion with art. The format invites slower interaction, reinforcing the idea of Hermès as a creative atelier rather than a fashion retailer.

The publication feels like an extension of the studio — thoughtful, artistic and quietly confident.

By elevating seasonal collections into cultural narratives, Le Monde d’Hermès enhances desirability. The magazine therefore reinforces craftsmanship and heritage, traits which underpin the Hermès brand.

7) The Creative Pragmatist, from fashion brand Tibi

Tibi is a New York fashion brand known for its modern, understated aesthetic. The brand produced a printed fashion style guide designed to communicate how garments can be combined across collections, translating the brand’s styling philosophy into a tangible reference for customers and retailers.

The guide was printed on uncoated stock, a deliberate choice that aligns with Tibi’s refined, contemporary visual identity. In fashion publishing, this can create a more editorial feel.

From an artworking perspective, printing imagery on uncoated paper requires careful colour preparation. Because the paper absorbs ink, colours appear slightly softer and darker than they would on coated stock. Artwork must therefore be adjusted in advance to ensure the final printed photographs retain clarity, balance and the intended tonal character.

The result is a style guide that feels consistent with Tibi’s design language — understated, tactile and editorial — demonstrating how thoughtful material selection and careful artworking combine to shape the final printed object.

Click here to read the Tibi case study.

Taken together, these publications demonstrate how print editorial has become an increasingly effective way for brands to communicate ideas, culture and identity. 

For brands willing to invest in thoughtful design and high production standards, print editorial offers a powerful medium for storytelling and long-term audience engagement.

If you are considering creating a printed magazine, journal or brand publication of your own, Park’s team can help guide the process from concept through to final production. To discuss your project, or simply learn more about printing high-quality editorial publications, get in touch with Park|Graphius here.