Color Me Kurt

An article in today’s New York Times discusses the new direction for Colors under the editorial leadership of critic, author, editor and part-time radio host Kurt Andersen.

Formerly an editor of Spy and New York Magazine, Andersen has a particularly original mind, and he’s always been sensitive to what’s going on around him. It’s worth pointing out, too, that his understanding of design is perhaps more sophisticated than most: so what does it say of his sense of magazines (and of where they’re headed) that he has selected as his art and design directors two of our foremost television designers, Bonnie Siegler and Emily Oberman of Number 17 in New York? (Even better for Kurt, Bonnie and Emily happen to also be seasoned graphic — and editorial — designers. It’s a smart choice.)

If Colors took chances under Tibor Kalman’s leadership, it will no doubt continue, with Andersen, to push against expectations. But the Benetton connection does indeed remain a bit of a slippery slope — and today’s Times piece cites this, the fuzzy border between a clothing company and a magazine — as one of its bigger editorial challenges.

“Irreverent, joyous and full of fun” are the qualities Andersen claims to want to revisit in the new magazine. Having seen Schwarzenegger as a black man before he was elected Governor, one can only imagine what’s coming next.

I, for one, look forward to it.