Interview 13: Editor of HOW Magazine Bryn Mooth

I love paging through design magazines (or any well-designed magazine for that matter), and HOW has been one of my favorites for years. I have always enjoyed the practical and inspirational approach it delivers. Several years ago, I had the privilege of meeting the editor, Bryn Mooth. It was incredibly refreshing to see that Bryn and the rest of the team were as cool as the magazine itself. Although, as most of you know, HOW is much more than a magazine. They host several conferences for every stage of a designers’ careers, including one of the best design conferences in the world. They publish a host of books, organize competitions, and have added an entire suite of online capabilities with several blogs, webinars and much more. With all of that said, I’m honored that Bryn took a little time to answer this installment of 29 Questions. You will soon see why she is one of our favorite peeps. Enjoy!

1: How long have you been editor at HOW?
I’ve been at HOW for much of my professional career in two separate stints, and I’m coming up on 10 years as editor.

2: What’s the favorite part of your job?
Sounds trite, but the people — both the team that I’m blessed to work with, and the amazingly talented and generous people in the design field that I’ve crossed paths with.

3: What’s the most challenging?
It’s news to no one that now is a tough time to be in publishing. Media companies are really wrestling with making the transition from printed page to digital formats. We’re certainly feeling it, but HOW has been more than a magazine for quite a long time. Our events, books and online presence give us a leg up.

4: What sets HOW apart from other design-focused magazines?
A couple of things: First, HOW is helpful and practical, not just nice to look at. Our mission is helping designers be more creative and more successful. Second, we’re not just a magazine — we’re a broader brand with lots of different ways to live that mission, through events, digital media, community, etc.

5: What was the first article you wrote professionally?
Not sure if you could call this professional, exactly, but I wrote the introduction to the yearbook when I was a senior in high school. I knew pretty early on that I wanted to go into media. My dad is glad that the journalism degree he paid for is actually getting put to productive use.

6: What was your first article about for HOW?
I wrote a production column about specialty printing finishes — foil-stamping, thermography, that kind of thing. I had absolutely NO clue about the subject, but I found several good sources who really helped me understand. It was my first exposure to the fact that people in this business are so willing to share their knowledge and experience.

7: How do you come up with your story ideas for the magazine?
Coming up with story ideas is easy — narrowing the list down to only the few that we have room to publish is hard. Ideas come from a lot of sources: our own research (my colleague, Megan Patrick, is a terrific researcher), industry connections, projects that designers send us.

8: How has the magazine business changed over the years?
My job is much broader now than editing copy and writing headlines — I’m an event programmer, social networker, web writer … you name it. I think the changes in the media business parallel what’s gone on in design.

9: What role does social media play in the HOW world?
It’s become a big initiative in the past 6 to 10 months. We started a HOW page on Facebook last fall, and launched into Twitter in February. HOW’s mission has a real emphasis on building community and helping our audience share their knowledge and learn from each other, so social media tools are great for us.

10: Where is HOW headquartered?
The Queen City: Cincinnati, Ohio.

11: If we were in your city, what are some must-see places or eateries that must be enjoyed?
The Cincinnati Art Museum is world-class, and admission is free thanks to a gift from the family that previously owned HOW’s parent company. The Contemporary Art Center downtown is a magnificent building designed by Zaha Hadid. There’s a district on the outskirts of downtown that’s currently being redeveloped — it’s home to my favorite thing about Cincinnati, Findlay Market (the oldest continuous public market in the U.S.) and also to a growing neighborhood of design-savvy retailers and local restaurants.

12: What is your superpower of choice?
Flight.

13: Where did you attend college?
Indiana University, in Bloomington.

14: Did you know what design was when you were in college?
I did. My high school yearbook gig gave me lots of hands-on experience with layout, and I had semester of graphic design at I.U. using the then-new Mac and Mac Paint software. It was pretty awful.

15: Do you consider yourself a “creative”?
In the sense of idea-generating, absolutely. In the sense of making, not so much. I’m not a designer, that’s for sure.

16: What are some of the biggest changes you have seen in the design business?
This dates me, but when I first started with HOW in 1990, the computer was just starting to influence design. Designers were shifting from using Rubylith and press-type to creating compositions and layouts on the Mac. For awhile, design had a very digital look for its own sake. Designers struggled to learn the new tools and questioned whether the computer was sucking the creativity out of design. In some ways, that question remains. Interestingly, we’re now in a place where designers are returning to their hands-on roots.

17: Do you have any design heroes?
Ann Willoughby, without a doubt.

18: What is your favorite non-design magazine?
Esquire.

19: What’s your favorite location for the HOW Conference?
Atlanta and New Orleans

20: What do you think designers miss not attending at least one conference now and then?
Connecting with other people who actually understand what they do for a living.

21: Do you have a favorite author?
John Irving

22: Do you have a favorite non-design blog?
My favorite non-design blog is 101cookbooks.com.

23: If you could be the editor at any other magazine what would it be?
Tough question! I guess it would be something that combines my interests in food, wine, fitness and gardening. Cooking Light, maybe?

24: If you had to be in a reality show with 4 designers who would you pick?
Debbie Millman and Alex Isley and, just to spice things up, Marc English and James Victore.

25: What is one of the most memorable experiences you have had thanks to HOW?
My first HOW Conference as editor, getting up onstage in Atlanta and speaking in public for the very first time in my life. I was terrified. But I followed the Georgia Mass Choir, which we’d hired to perform before the opening session, and the energy they generated was inspiring. That energy helped keep my knees from knocking too much.

26: If you could be doing anything else what would it be?
I’d have a sort of hybrid career — freelance writing/editing and perhaps teaching fitness classes.

27: Do you have any hobbies?
Cooking, gardening, golf, fitness, taking long walks with my husband and our dog.

28: Favorite sugary treat?
I’m more of a salty snacker, but in the sweets department it would have to be peanut M&Ms.

29: What does design mean to you?
On a personal level, design is what has connected me with lots of amazing creative people. On a broader level, design helps people make sense of their world.

Many thanks to Bryn. What is your favorite magazine or inspirational blog?
By the way, you can follow HOW on twitter @howmag.