This week, a new (?) idea launched in the U.S. It’s called 48 Hour Magazine. I say the U.S. because this idea was actually already done in Galway, Ireland a few weeks ago, though on a different scale. You can download their issue here.

In the U.S. version, a group of writers, art directors and designers got together and came up with a project idea: if they release a theme to the public on day one, require all submissions on day two, and send the edited contents to the publisher on day three…what happens? I like this question…the inherent experimentation in the project. Also, they’re collecting a guaranteed readership before actually committing to print, which is clever…like subscriptions but within a faster timeline and on a more relevent platform (social media, viral, etc.).

According to one article, the group is using an online, on-demand publisher of magazines called MagCloud. This service is good for students to know about or anyone thinking of printing a magazine. Like Blurb and Lulu, on-demand book publishers, Magcloud allows anyone to upload files and print a magazine as quickly as you can design one. (I wonder why Blurb/Lulu don’t have a magazine option?) In addition to the printed magazine, 48Hr will have a website and an online version as well.

So what does this all mean for publishing? For writing, for design, illustration? First, let’s look at on-demand publishing. This concept relates to the democratization of power (by which I mean capabilities) and accessibility of information, all under the umbrella of autonomy. These are big words, but basically it means that everyone is capable of publishing their own content at will, thereby breaking traditional avenues one previously had to take to spread ideas. The 48Hr project takes this idea to a new level, in my mind, because it takes advantage of the speed at which life seems to be moving through the use of social networking and an idea’s ability to go viral. (I kind of wish there was a video introducing them.) Anyway, 48Hr certainly seems to be pushing the idea of what a magazine is (like magazine meets newspaper?).

The project is also highly inclusive. Within 12 hours of the launch, 1,200 hundred humans had signed up to play, myself included. They are looking for illustrators, writers, photographers and, I think, designers. They’ve even invited anyone in the San Francisco Bay Area to drop by their headquarters to help move things along. Accessibility (of ideas, people, content) is what makes the internet an exciting tool, now translated back to the 3D world. (Of course, we have to look at who has access and who creates content, but that’s for another story.) 48Hr makes itself open to everyone throughout almost the entire publishing process. This is the exact opposite of traditional publishing, where the connection between author and publisher is many times removed through agents and rejection letters.

I’m curious about the actual publishing schedule, since Magcloud takes a few weeks to actually proof and print, but then again two weeks is hardly much time to wait for a publication. And I wonder what they are charging for each magazine. Interestingly, Magcloud is having a sale that week on all publications. And how will they select contributors? A 1,200 page magazine would be a little hefty.

Check out the creators of this thing, none of whom I actually know, but who I am enjoying following via stalker-esque social media:

• Heather Champ
• Dylan Fareed
• Matthew Honan
• Alexis Madrigal
• Derek Powazek
• Sarah Rich

I’ve signed up to receive the one-word theme on May 7. I might even have time to participate. In the meantime, check out the new project and let me know what you think.