Five Questions with Juman Malouf

Why did you accept the invitation to design the Spring 2022 edition of All-Story?
Zoetrope: All-Story is the only magazine I still receive in the mail! I always enjoy the stories—but, also, I love seeing how the designers completely reinvent each issue, which is always unexpected and wildly different from the last. I wanted a shot at it. 

Were there any surprises in the design process?
The biggest surprise was how stress-free it was. Typically, I’m never relaxed when I’m working. I worry. In this case, though, I felt free. I could do anything I wanted. It was fun. 

Any challenges?
I’ve been wanting to somehow commemorate my father, who died last year. Working with Zoetrope, I saw my opportunity: a lot of blank pages to fill. I decided to make a story in pictures, and I put him at the center of it. The idea seemed simple enough, but it was quite a challenge not to use words. 

Might you offer any advice to future designers?
Try something new. It was liberating to work in a different way. 

What’s inspiring you of late? 

Visual:
Remedios Varo

Musical:
Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas

Textual:
Tove Jansson’s Moomin books