Wallpaper* (magazine)

Wallpaper* (magazine)
Title	Wallpaper*
Editor	Tony Chambers
Frequency	Monthly
Category	Design, Architecture, Lifestyle
Firstdate	1996
Country	United Kingdom
Based	London
Language	English

Wallpaper* (magazine) is a London-based monthly magazine founded in 1996 that covers international architecture, design, travel, fashion, and lifestyle with a focus on contemporary creativity and luxury. The publication quickly established itself as an influential voice linking practices across Tokyo, New York City, Milan, Paris, and Los Angeles, promoting cross-disciplinary collaborations among leading figures and institutions. Its editorial approach combines profiles of designers, architects, artists, and brands with reporting on exhibitions, biennales, and commercial launches.

History

Wallpaper* was launched by editor-in-chief Tyler Brûlé and published by Thames & Hudson before editorial leadership passed to Tony Chambers; its formative years coincided with major cultural moments such as the rise of Zaha Hadid commissions, the expansion of Foster + Partners, and the global prominence of events like the Venice Biennale and the Salone del Mobile. Early coverage tied emerging practices from Rem Koolhaas and Herzog & de Meuron to product work by Philippe Starck, Mariano Fortuny, and Isamu Noguchi, while profiling creative entrepreneurs in Soho and Shoreditch. The magazine expanded internationally with bureaus and contributors in cities including Hong Kong, Berlin, and Barcelona, aligning editorial agendas with cultural institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Cooper Hewitt. Over subsequent decades Wallpaper* navigated industry shifts from print to digital during the era of Apple product launches, the rise of social platforms like Instagram and Pinterest, and transformations in advertising led by luxury groups such as LVMH, Kering, and Richemont.

Editorial profile and content

The magazine features profiles and interviews with prominent creators such as Norman Foster, Rem Koolhaas, Patricia Urquiola, Tadao Ando, Jean Nouvel, Anish Kapoor, Thomas Heatherwick, Eileen Gray, Le Corbusier, Alvar Aalto, and Frank Gehry, alongside fashion designers and brands like Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermès, Dior, and Saint Laurent. Regular sections cover new architecture projects in cities like Dubai, Beijing, Mumbai, São Paulo, and Istanbul; interior work by studios such as Studiopepe and Neri&Hu; product launches from manufacturers including Vitra, Knoll, B&B Italia, Cassina, and Muuto; and hospitality projects by groups like Accor, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Aman Resorts, and The Ritz-Carlton. Cultural reportage links exhibitions at institutions such as the Tate Modern, the Guggenheim, and the Palazzo Grassi to biennales and festivals including the London Design Festival, the Cannes Film Festival, and the Milan Design Week. The magazine also runs editorial columns on travel destinations ranging from Santorini and Kyoto to New Orleans and Reykjavík, and profiles restaurateurs and chefs connected to Noma, Osteria Francescana, El Celler de Can Roca, and Eleven Madison Park.

Ownership and business model

Originally published by Thames & Hudson, the title has passed through ownership and investment arrangements involving media entrepreneurs and private equity linked to groups operating in publishing and events. Revenue streams combine print advertising from luxury advertisers such as Rolex, Cartier, Bulgari, Mercedes-Benz, and Bentley with digital advertising, branded content, e-commerce partnerships, and licensing collaborations with design fairs and retailers like Design Miami/, 1stdibs, and Net-a-Porter. The brand has pursued limited-edition product collaborations with designers and manufacturers, and commercial ventures that mirror strategies used by media companies such as Condé Nast, Hearst Communications, and Time Inc..

Awards and special projects

Wallpaper* established prizes and curated initiatives including design awards and product commissions that have spotlighted emerging talent alongside established studios. The magazine has partnered with juries and institutions such as the Design Museum, the Royal Institute of British Architects, and trade fairs like Salone del Mobile.Milano to present awards, editorially driven competitions, and bespoke projects. Special projects have included commissioned interiors, capsule collections with manufacturers such as Alessi and Flos, and collaborations with galleries and auction houses like Christie’s and Sotheby’s for charity design auctions and exhibitions.

Digital presence and events

The brand operates a website and social channels that distribute editorial content, video features, and e-commerce listings while participating in and staging events tied to the international calendar: pop-up exhibitions during Milan Design Week, panel programmes at the Serpentine Galleries, and parties during the Frieze Art Fair and Art Basel. Wallpaper* has extended its reach through newsletters, podcasts, digital subscriptions, and partnerships with platforms and retailers including Apple Podcasts and global hospitality groups to produce bespoke content for hotel lobbies and airport lounges.

Reception and influence

Wallpaper* has been credited with shaping contemporary tastes in design, architecture, and lifestyle, influencing collectors, curators, and brands that exhibit at venues such as the V&A Dundee, the Centre Pompidou, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. Critics and cultural commentators have compared its impact to that of legacy titles like Architectural Digest, Domus, Dwell, and Icon, noting its role in elevating cross-disciplinary practices and in fostering collaborations between architects, designers, fashion houses, and hospitality operators. The magazine’s aesthetic and commissioning strategies have left a visible imprint on showrooms, museum displays, retail interiors, and curated hotel experiences around the world.

Category:British magazines Category:Architecture magazines Category:Design magazines