Meet…Claudia Wu

(Pictured Left: Me Founder, Claudia Wu)

Claudia Wu is the brain-child behind ME Magazine – one of the most innovative and interesting magazines currently being published. With a unique parameter surrounding each issue, guest editors are selected to essentially helm the book and populate the content accordingly. From a career in graphic design, Wu believed that working at a magazine would be the last thing to drive her career. Long story short, ME was created as a way to focus on one person and their circle of influence. This allows readers to get a concise POV into the subjects life.

With the next issue being controlled by none other than Philip Lim, I had a chance to chat with Wu about her career path, her vision for the magazine, and why by looking atones group of friend’s – you are able to determine who they are.

What is the mission behind Me Magazine? What compelled you to up-start this publication?

I had a few things on my mind when I started the magazine. Having worked at a variety of publications—Visionaire, V, Harper’s Bazaar, Index—I wanted to do something that I had complete control over creatively because I never really felt fulfilled working for someone else. Secondly, I wanted to help young creative talent get their work out there. And lastly, I had moved away from the city and wanted a way to reconnect with people and get to know new people.

Each issue highlights the lifestyle and special interests of a guest editor. March 2009’s issue will edited by Philip Lim. What is it about Lim that you thought would be a great addition to this issue?

I was drawn to Philip’s success as a young designer who’s clothes are high end, but at a more affordable price range. I’ve covered young designers in the past that are more luxury, so Philip is the first that targets a broader market in terms of price point. A friend of mine also told me that he escaped the civil war in Cambodia, which was really interesting to me, but I later found out that he was a baby, so he probably wasn’t old enough remember anything about it! I haven’t gotten his interview transcript back yet, so we’ll see about that.

After graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design for Graphic Design – where did you see your career going? Did you know you always wanted to be in publications?

Magazines and publications were the last thing I wanted to do because I imagined that working at one would be really repetitive and boring—same fonts, same grids, same old routine month after month. I thought I would just work at a design firm that did a variety of projects. I did that, learned all I could, and was bored out of my mind within the first month. I quit after three months and went to London because a friend of mine was moving there. I toyed with the idea of staying, but ended up back in New York freelancing and found my way to Visionaire and V Magazine.

What differentiates Me Magazine from other books?

I think that its focus is much smaller than other books. To focus on one person and their group of friends allows readers to get a deeper view into someone’s life. I’ve always felt that you can tell a lot from a person from their friends.

How much creative control does the guest editor have when compiling the issue?

The guest editor gets to pick a guest photographer, their contributors or friends, edits the Q+As their friends answer, and helps edit the photographs. Some people choose not to do as much for their magazine, which is fine also. It’s a personal project for a guest editor, so I try to let them have as much creative control as they want.

What does the future hold for Me?

We’re going to launch a portal website for the magazine in 2009 with original content. I think it’s time to expand the magazine’s content online to compliment the print magazine. There is so much going on in the world, I think the magazine can do more and help more people get exposure. I sometimes wish that we could do six issues a year, which would probably kill me, but I think the website is a good compromise.

Facebook This

---