Design Reviewed: Graham Keen's Psychedelic Layout for International Times No. 43 (1968)
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Summary
A review of International Times No. 43 (November 1968), the influential UK underground magazine, focusing on its psychedelic design by Graham Keen. The article examines the publication's role in the counterculture movement, its distinctive large-format layout, experimental typography, and vibrant visual aesthetic that captured the spirit of the late 1960s underground scene in London.
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Key quotes
· 5 pulledInternational Times was the first and most influential of the UK underground magazines, founded in 1966 by a collective that included John Hopkins, Miles, and Jim Haynes.
The design of International Times No. 43 is a masterclass in psychedelic layout, with its bold use of color, experimental typography, and collage-like composition.
The magazine was printed on a broadsheet format, measuring 290mm x 460mm, which gave it a distinctive presence on the newsstands.
Graham Keen's design for this issue captures the spirit of the late 1960s counterculture, with its rejection of conventional design norms in favor of a more expressive, free-form approach.
The cover features a striking psychedelic illustration that draws the reader into the world of the underground press.
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