Surface (magazine)

Early years

Surface was founded in 1993 by Richard Klein and Riley Johndonnell. The magazine was based in San Francisco until 2005, when the main offices were relocated to New York City.

In 1994, Surface was called one of 10 magazines as “upstart magazines to watch” by Vanity Fair.

In 1997, Surface introduced its inaugural Avant Guardian issue, which focused on the Avant Guardian Awards, a fashion photography competition. Winners went on to work for fashion houses like Giorgio Armani, Hermès, Banana Republic, Nike, IBM and Levi's—as well as magazines like Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Mademoiselle, and The New York Times Magazine. Leaders in fashion and design industries would select 10 finalists to have their work featured in a fashion spread and at a launch event. For several years, the competition was expanded to include designers. Between 2011 and 2013, the Avant Guardian was on hiatus, but was revived again in 2014 and 2015, these times again only for photographers. The 15th and final Avant Guardian issue was published in October 2015.

In 2009, the publication was acquired by Quadra Media. In 2011, Surface was sold to Sandow Media.

After 2012 acquisition

In 2012, Surface magazine was acquired by Eric Crown, co-founder and current chairman emeritus of the Arizona-based company Insight Enterprises. Surface Media LLC was formed in 2014.

Under CEO Marc Lotenberg and editor-in-chief Spencer Bailey, Surface Media has launched new ventures, including Design Dialogues and Surface Studios, and Surface remains a voice in the design industry.

With the June/July 2013 issue—Bailey’s first as editor—Surface unveiled a major design overhaul created in partnership with the consultancy Noë & Associates. Contributing editors to join during Bailey’s first year at the helm included Valerie Steele, the director and chief curator of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology; Bettina Korek, an arts advocate, writer, and the founder of ForYourArt; and architect and designer David Rockwell.

The November 2013 issue featured Julian Schnabel saying, “I find less and less that I care if people understand me . . . I didn’t want to do this interview, but I did it because if people are interested in your work, then you should support them.” In the June/July 2014 issue, real estate developer Aby Rosen called Tom Wolfe a “buffoon.” In the June/July 2016 issue, former New York Times reporter Jayson Blair wrote for Surface about how the media handles lies.

In 2013 Surface launched Design Dialogue talk series in which editor-in-chief Spencer Bailey discusses design topics with featured international designers and brands.

In February 2015, Surface announced its partnership with the nonprofit membership organization, Art Directors Club. Through this partnership, ADC helps build Surface’s creative team.

In 2015, editor in chief Spencer Bailey stated that as part of the magazine's redesign plans, new columns would be added to the magazine, focusing on the craftsmanship of fashion and design equally. These new columns include Detail, which looks at garment and textile detail; Taste, in which a thought leader shares a current personal interest; How Its Made, which is set to replace the yearly issue of the same name; Executive, in which an executive discusses the convergence of business and creativity; and Dialogue, a conversation between two creatives. In February 2016, Surface released its first Builders Issue, which focuses on real estate development and architecture.

Events

Surface hosts events throughout the year including art events during Art Basel in Miami, Power 100 List celebrations, design events during NYC x Design, and VIP dinners.

Surface Online

The publication has an online presence through the Surface 7 biweekly newsletter, as well as through social media.