Good Magazine piqued my interest at first glance. They offered a compelling concept, impressive roster of contributors and an intrigung subscription model (for a susbscriber… or an investor going on Google Story lessons): give $20 to the organization of your choice (within a well selected array including Oceana, Witness, Ashoka and Creative Commons), get 6 issues and an invitation to the launch parties in LA and NY. With refreshing transparency, they reveal how far along they are on their goal, and how many subscribers choose each organization so you can direct your dollars accordingly if you’re torn between worthy causes.

The NY launch party served up old and new friends and boldface names. Abundant open bar stations poured copious cocktails yet offered no food (but a cool kitchen). Flavorpill’s Sascha Lewis, Grandmaster Flash(!) and Prefuse 73 spun mad grooves. The most exciting introduction however, was undoubtedly to Emergency Arts, the building we were in and a group of artists and media creators responding to environmental, social and political crises. The space, a wild dream of sustainable design, felt like a living organism… a smart, warm, generous, funny and naughty creature that breathes art and ideas. More photos from the opening…

In the family of periodicals, Good resembles an American cousin of Ode, but younger and more visual, like a nephew of Tibor’s Colors. Open’s thoughtful design features visual tagging using color coded navigation symbols by theme along the top and links to more info along the bottom margin. With a focus on ideas that inspire and people doing interesting things, each issue features a unifying theme interpreted visually by a different designer or group (the inaugural issue highlights WK12 taking on “I ♥ America”).

In other senses, Good’s got an excellent hand, smells pleasant and gifts us with thoughtful stickers rather than wasteful blow-out subscription cards. Last but not least, they’re Good to the core with recycled paper content, carbon emissions offset, exclusive rights on content relinquished after 120 days and CC licenses encouraged.

Related of interest elsewhere:

• Worldchanging interview with Ben Goldhirsh.
• A Magazine for Earnest Young Things by Sharon Waxman, NYTimes.
• For WK12, Life Is Good on Unbeige

Next eagerly anticipated mags to devour:

• James Truman’s Culture & Travel launching Friday. (His Heaven & Earth article on Bhutan is a must read if you’re headed that way…)
• Swindle No. 8 featuring Banksy (Yay to messing with Disney; please be kind to the sentient beings).

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