Richard Turley's shape-shifting career has taken him from the Guardian to Bloomberg Businessweek to MTV and now to Wieden + Kennedy. Along the way he has been the creative director and mastermind for a series of groundbreaking publications, including Mushpit, Good Trouble, and most recently, Civilization. All of these feature his unique visual vision, which includes a smart passion for content and a gonzo graphic style that incorporates elements of 60s underground and alternative publications, 70s punk 'zines, and large dose of provocative creative energy. Turley gave a legendary presentation to SPD members (with help from his cohort Jennifer Daniel) when he was creative director at Bloomberg Businessweek. He also appeared at an SPD Gala dressed as a hot dog. At each of his magazines, Turley has expanded the idea of what a magazine should be and how it should look; we're looking forward to his appearance at the ModMag NY Edition on May 30 at Parsons School of Design in NYC.

SPD: What's your most recent project?
Richard Turley: The project that's most relatable to the people reading this interview would be Wieden + Kennedy x Rhizome 7 x 7 @ 10 Years Magazine. lol. thats a bit of a mouthful. We just made a made a magazine for Rhizome, the New Museum's digital technologies off-shoot. They hold an incredible conference each year called 7x7 which turns 10 this year. I helped the New York office here make a publication to commemorate that which will be given away at the conference and then given some distribution through the New Museum and some hotels and bookstores and stuff afterwards. 

SPD: What is some recent work that you're most proud of (and why)?
Richard Turley: The 7x7 mag is great. Kind of like an academic text book gone wrong. I'm proud of that. I'm proud of everything I do. Proud of the people I work with, proud of effort, the ideas. What the point of doing it otherwise? 

SPD: Which magazine best represents the current state-of-the-art of magazine creation?
Richard Turley: Fuck it, I'm going to say Civilization. 

SPD: Which magazine best represents the future of magazines?
Richard Turley: Fuck it, I'm going to say Civilization. 

SPD: Is there one person or magazine at the NY edition of ModMag who you think is going to be a "don't miss"?
Richard Turley: Fuck it, I'm going to say Me.

SPD: I'm optimistic about the future of magazines because....
Richard Turley: :.. someone's got to be.

ModMag NY Edition takes place on May 30 at the Parsons School of Design. Sponsored by magCulture, AIGA NY and Parsons. Tickets available HERE. SPD members can get an exclusive discount HERE.