Print-First Futures Symposium

Print-First Futures is a gathering of the women building what lasts—editors, publishers, creatives, and brand leaders shaping the next generation of print media. Hosted by In Real Life Media and Head Hi, the symposium brings together cultural and commercial voices to explore how print magazines continue to shape community, belonging, and brand value in our ever-changing world. Kindly supported by Freeport Press. 

Case Study Presentation (2:15-3:00pm): Womanly Magazine, Attia Taylor

Creative producer, health advocate, and musician Attia Taylor will share the story of launching Womanly Magazine, a print publication centered on the lived experiences of women and non binary people through the lens of art and health. She will offer insights on building a team, leveraging your network for expansion, cultivating an online and IRL community, and forming creative partnerships to support long term sustainability.

Case Study Presentation (3:15-4:00pm ): Untapped, Tiffany Jow

In this focused case study, Tiffany Jow of Untapped highlights why the publication is not glorified catalogue for its publisher, the design company Henrybuilt, but a strategic asset. She’ll show how a print platform can deepen trust, articulate brand values, and turn readers into long-term believers—while simultaneously contributing to the wider design industry and to journalism in genuine, tangible ways. This is a candid look at what happens when a brand stops chasing attention and starts building cultural authority instead.

Stay tuned for more on the afternoon's agenda and participants.

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About the participants and organizers:

Attia Taylor is a Brooklyn-based creative producer, director, and musician. She is the founder of Womanly, a creative studio and publication founded in 2017 to provide preventive health information through art to Black and Brown women and non-binary folks. Her work is rooted in social justice and health advocacy to bring inclusive and culturally relevant content to print and film. She is passionate about building and cultivating communities through storytelling, research, and creative production. Tiffany Jow is a writer and editor who is interested in how creative expression—in architecture and design in particular—can promote new ways of thinking, seeing, and feeling. Since 2022 she has served as founding editor-in-chief of the design journal Untapped. Prior to that, she was marketing director for Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, where she contributed to its winning proposal for Chicago’s Obama Presidential Center. She has also worked as design editor for Surface magazine, contributed to exhibitions at New York’s Museum of Arts and Design and London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, and been a guest critic at Barnard College, New York University, Pratt Institute, and the School of Visual Arts. She lives in Brooklyn.

In Real Life Media is a strategy and partnerships agency dedicated to building the next generation of legacy print media, bridging the gap between creative vision and commercial strength. We’ve sat on every side of the table—from independent magazine publishing to distribution to brand strategy—and we know what it takes to make print both culturally powerful and financially sustainable. Our mission is to strengthen the magazine publishing ecosystem by helping founders, brands, and institutions build print-first businesses that last, creating publications with integrity, relevance, and real-world impact.

Head Hi is an organization dedicated to art, architecture and design specializing in publications and cultural programming with an espresso bar located in Fort Greene, Brooklyn by the Navy Yard. We feature a curated selection of publications from around the globe. Working with local and international artists, designers, publishers, community members and organizations in various fields, Head Hi is a space for exploration and interaction that hosts talks, book launches, art shows, music performances and other events. 

Freeport Press is a nationally recognized leader in the print production of high-quality niche publications and catalogs, and has been in continuous operation since 1880, now centrally located at their facility in New Philadelphia, Ohio. They've made a name for themselves as one of the most efficient printers in North America through innovative business practices, continuous investment in state-of-the-art technology, employee development and training, plus the strategic implementation of systems and process controls. Their customers know they can expect not only great printing but real solutions to problems that every publisher faces. Freeport Press was also awarded “Best Web Printing (United States)” at the America’s Print Awards 2025.