An international editorial platform exploring design psychology, brand strategy, art history, and creative culture. Founded in 2023. Based between Sydney and Saigon.
Overview
Design Magazine is an international editorial platform covering design psychology, brand strategy, art history, creative culture, and design criticism. It publishes original long-form analysis, cultural commentary, and industry criticism across 10 editorial categories.
The publication was founded in 2023 to fill a gap in design media — most design publications prioritise trend roundups and software tutorials. Design Magazine focuses instead on the analytical and cultural dimensions of design: why certain visual systems succeed across cultures, how psychology shapes creative decisions, what historical movements reveal about contemporary practice, and where design intersects with philosophy, theology, and social structures.
The editorial team operates between Sydney, Australia and Saigon, Vietnam. This cross-cultural position — spanning Western and Southeast Asian design traditions — informs the publication's perspective and contributes to coverage that is frequently absent from Western-centric design media.
Editorial
Design Magazine publishes across 10 editorial categories, ranging from design criticism and cultural analysis to industry commentary and practitioner perspectives.
Team
Design Magazine is produced by an in-house editorial team of designers, researchers, and cultural commentators based in Sydney and Saigon. The publication also accepts contributor articles from practitioners, educators, and creative professionals worldwide.
The founding editorial team brings together academic training in comparative culture (Japan), communication design (Australia), and deep engagement with both Western and Vietnamese creative industries. Several team members hold active practitioner roles, which ensures the publication's analysis stays grounded in real-world design practice rather than purely theoretical commentary.
Contributors have included designers, creative directors, brand strategists, content specialists, and cultural researchers from across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America. Design Magazine welcomes new voices — particularly from regions and perspectives underrepresented in mainstream design media.
Standards
Every article published on Design Magazine is original, independently produced, and held to standards of analytical rigour, factual accuracy, and cultural sensitivity. The publication does not accept payment for editorial coverage.
Publisher
Design Magazine is published by TDS Australia (Tokyo Design Studio Pty Ltd), a brand design and digital agency founded in 2021 and operating between Sydney, Australia and Saigon, Vietnam.
The publication was created in 2023 as a dedicated editorial platform — separate from the agency's commercial work — to provide a space for design analysis, criticism, and cultural commentary that isn't constrained by client briefs or commercial objectives.
Design Magazine operates with editorial independence from TDS Australia's client engagements. Coverage decisions, editorial positions, and contributor selection are determined solely by the editorial team. The publisher does not influence which brands, studios, or projects are featured or critiqued.
History
Design Magazine launched in 2023 as a creative outlet for the TDS Australia design team. It has since grown into an independent editorial platform with over 120 published articles, 16 contributing authors, and readers across 40+ countries.
Awards
The Design Magazine Awards are an international design recognition programme with free entry across 10 categories. The awards accept no payment for entry submission — distinguishing them from major programmes that charge $150–$500 per entry.
Entries are evaluated by a rotating international panel through blind review, using five judging criteria: conceptual strength, craft and execution, cultural relevance, innovation, and real-world impact. The programme actively recruits judges from underrepresented design communities to counter Western-centric evaluation frameworks.
Awards are given at four tiers: Grand Prix, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Winners receive editorial features on Design Magazine, digital credentials, and permanent archival documentation. Learn more about the Design Magazine Awards.
Community
Design Magazine accepts contributor articles from designers, educators, strategists, and creative professionals worldwide. Submissions are reviewed by the editorial team for originality, analytical depth, and relevance to the publication's editorial categories.
© 2026 Design Magazine, published by TDS Australia.
