New Esquire editor Jeremy Langmead has promised to create a “very different” look for the title after poaching two staff from his former title, Wallpaper*.
David McKendrick (pictured right), currently head designer of the bespoke department at Wallpaper* – where Langmead was previously editor-in-chief – will be art director at Esquire. Robert Johnston, US editor of Wallpaper*, joined Esquire as style & business editor this week. He was previously US editor of Wallpaper* for three years.
Langmead confirmed that McKendrick’s design for Esquire would be unveiled in its September issue. He told Press Gazette: “I want Esquire to look very different.
I’ve gone for an art director whose background is more graphic design than traditional magazine design because I didn’t want somebody who was bogged down by convention and tradition.
“I wanted someone who would approach the magazine with a new, innovative and inquisitive eye.
Esquire needs to look exciting and sophisticated, beautiful and intelligent – a bit like the ideal date.”
Esquire’s makeover coincides with a rethink at Emap’s Arena, where former Sunday Times interviewer Giles Hattersley has been drafted in to reshape the title in the face of falling sales. Arena slumped to 34,556 sales in the last ABCs, down 29.9 per cent year on year, while Esquire hit a new low of 52,468, down 3.8 per cent.
Both editors are fashion journalism graduates from Central St Martins College of Art and Design.
Hattersley began his career at the Sunday Times Style section, where Langmead was editor in the ’90s.
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