Soft Stir’s third issue explores the impact of collision on culture

The third issue of Soft Stir delves into governance and the influence of clashes, intersections and impacts. Led by the theme ‘Stories of Collision’, the independent magazine presents 45 Australian creatives – from designers and illustrators to poets and musicians – platforming the diverse perspectives and voices that are shaping the creative scene down under.

“Growing up in regional New South Wales, I cherished the glossy fashion editorials of Vogue,” says creative director Alex Stevenson. Magazines connected her to a culture beyond her rural hometown, and inspired her to pursue design. While studying abroad in Montreal, Alex began to prototype a concept for an A5 zine featuring a collection of articles, essays, photography, and fine art. “When I returned to Australia, I was on the verge of finishing my studies and entering the creative industry,” she says. “I was looking for a way to progress my practice, find my voice as a designer, and break into the industry, so I decided to develop the concept further.”

So began Soft Stir, and Alex’s initial drive never left her side. “We look for balance across form, tone, and subject matter,” says editor-in-chief Chloe Hayman. “When we get this mix right, we create a dynamic expression of our theme.” In doing so, the magazine reflects the diversity of Australia’s emerging creative voices. “The more breadth, the better the representation,” Chloe adds. "As the first people on this land, Indigenous perspectives are essential to any conversation on so-called Australia’s culture." This plays a prominent role in the magazine's exploration of collision. “We worked with Wiradjuri poet and artist Jazz Money as our First Nations curator,” she explains. Jazz selected work by four Indigenous creatives; “their contributions enriched the issue with wisdom on how to navigate the complexities of collision,” says Chloe says.

Soft Stir's design is as ever-evolving and forward-thinking as its content. It creativity responds to each issue’s specific theme with only a handful of fixed parameters. “Consistent elements, such as the logo, masthead, and core typography underpin our brand,” Alex explains, “creating room in every issue to experiment, iterate and stretch the identity". These elements don't exist in isolation but rather serve as a capsule for the contemporary creative zeitgeists. “As the world has become increasingly frenetic,” she adds, “the visual identity has become more unconventional, atonal and transgressive.”

With this in mind, Soft Stir's latest issue is truly a collision of colour, style and sensibilities, befit with an editorial identity that typifies its theme. “The graphic layering is amplified by the contribution of four guest designers,” says Alex, who collaborated to design specific pieces and sections, culminating in a vibrant, ragged cacophony of creative expression. “Amongst the chaos of loud, high-impact spreads are moments of restraint,” she says, “giving breathing room before re-entering the maximalist fold of collision."

Alex and Chloe both stress the importance of publishing physical magazines. “Creating a print publication today is an act of resistance against endless scrolling and digital noise,” they say. “We’re making something permanent – an artefact you can revisit, share, forget about and rediscover.” In a world of fleeting content, permanence is crucial. “When we publish emerging artists in print, we’re saying their voices deserve to exist in a form that will outlast the next refresh of your feed.”