my second favorite. . .Brûlé (e)

A few weeks ago, I stopped by my favorite mag shop here in Montreal, MULTIMAGS on Mt. Royal Ave, and the cover of Monocle's February Issue stood out.  MONOCLE?  Where did this come from? The glossy cover immediately brought to mind the fabulous Wallpaper magazine (the good years, 1996-2002).  Well my curiosity lingered and I googled "Monocle and Wallpaper" when I got home, not really expecting a connection.  To my surprise, my instincts were right...the connection is the dandy fellow below...the CANADIAN born and founder of both Wallpaper + MONOCLE, Tyler Brûlé.  (I feel like I've arrived late to a fabulous party).


In case you are in the dark like I was about this creative entrepreneur, here are a few fast facts based on online finds...


1. Born to French-Canadian + Estonian parents. He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1968.
2. His career started as a BBC reporter.
3. He launched Wallpaper in 1996.
4. He founded the creative agency, Winkreative in 1998.
5. He left Wallpaper in 2002.
6. He launched his second publication in 2007, MONOCLE (Headquartered in London, with offices in Tokyo, Zürich and New York.)

...

Images above: Tyler Brûlé portrait (photographer unknown) * Tyler Brûlé in the Monocle Weekly (photographer unknown) * logo of Monocle * the magazines shot is mine...my old Wallpapers with my first Monocle issue...


I think I want to make a poster of these 7 points (from cover above of issue 40. volume 4) 

HOW TO CHART A STEADY COURSE: 

1. KEEP FOCUSED ON WHAT LIES OVER THE HORIZON 

2. DON'T BE DISTRACTED BY TRENDS OR FADS   

3. KNOW WHAT YOUR BRAND STANDS FOR  

4. MAINTAIN A DIVERSE TALENT MIX   

5. INVEST IN SEEING THE WORLD  

6. BE TYRANNICAL WHEN IT COMES TO DETAILS  

7. CHANGE TACK THE MOMENT ITS NO LONGER FUN

. . . . . .

Monocle is not like Wallpaper, but it has similar characteristics and well Brûlé.  It is divided in five sections: affairs, business, culture, design and edit...read about them here. It is perfect for someone who likes a smart/worldly read with pictures, designed diagrams, unique ads that inspire (probably from sister company, Winkreative) and nice paper (for collages). I am all about the printed word with glamour.  NOTE: This will not replace my New Yorker, I just found it a handsome playmate.

It is a dense but brilliant read. My brain is now aware of the following thanks to the February Issue: 

1) Marisol Valles Garcia, the 20-year-old criminology student that is currently Praxedis G. Guerrero, México's chief of police (An extremely dangerous town).

2. About the film/TV dubbing industry in places like India, Italy and Germany...(hysterical)

3. Alberto Giacometti's 'Walking Man l' became the priciest sculpture and most expensive work of art ever sold at auction in Feb 2010.

I am still going through it...