BFI – Sight and Sound
BFI – Sight and Sound
The British Film Institute (BFI)’s, Sight and Sound magazine has an amazing heritage — established in 1932, it has long been considered one of the international authorities on film. British and World independent and arthouse film is at the heart of its remit, but it covers every aspect of moving-image culture, from TikTok, experimental film and TV series to Hollywood blockbusters.
Studio
Created as part of Team Willer at Pentagram
Deliverables
Publication Design
Design System
Situation
The printed magazine is at the core of the brands ecosystem and part of a wider rebrand to celebrate film as a unique art form. Needing a more contemporary approach to make the most of the rich editorial content
Outcome
The magazine’s design language is inspired by the graphic language of film clapperboards, with bold typography and visible grids used throughout. These are used to emphasise words, give a contrast in pace and create layouts with real impact.
Alongside the redesign, the magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Mike Williams refreshed the editorial content with new contributors and sections, greater access to the magazine’s unique archive interviews, and a quarterly collaboration with seminal 90s publication Black Film Bulletin. The print magazine is supported by social media and digital channels with real-time reviews and commentary.
“I’m incredibly proud to launch this revamped and reinvigorated Sight and Sound at such a key moment for film. For almost 90 years Sight and Sound has been a place for independent critical thought, and this new-look magazine builds on that legacy. We support a wide range of opinions, give a platform to a diverse range of voices and we explore a broader idea of screen culture than we have in the past, but our identity remains rooted in our belief in the power of cinema. Magazines are an important part of our culture, they’re lifelines, and this new magazine sits in the middle of an expanding cross-platform world that will ensure that film-lovers around the world can access us however they like, whenever they like for years to come. Long live cinema, long live Sight and Sound.”