SIMZINE has never been a project tied to a single medium. From the beginning, it has existed both in digital and in print, with each format serving a specific purpose within the same editorial ecosystem.
The in-print version of SIMZINE was conceived as a curated object: a physical publication that offered wide previews of articles in different languages, guiding readers toward the digital platform for the full articles and for reading in their preferred language. Print was never meant to replace digital, but to complement it. This hybrid approach allowed us to experiment with form, reach different audiences, and explore the relationship between physical and digital publishing.
At the same time, SIMZINE has always had a strong emotional connection to paper. We love the smell of ink, the weight of a magazine in the hands, the quiet ritual of turning pages. For many of us, paper is not just a medium: it is an experience.
But passion alone is no longer enough. We need to make responsible decisions.
Over the past few years, we looked more critically at the impact of our choices. Print magazines, no matter how beautiful, demand a supply chain built on resource-intensive processes: sourcing paper, heavy water and energy use, ink production, mass printing, transportation, and the inevitable creation of waste from outdated issues. With every physical magazine comes a visible environmental cost, one that cannot be ignored simply because we love the final object.
For this reason, during 2025, SIMZINE began moving toward a more responsible production model. One concrete step was the decision to stop printing new books for the SIMZINE Library and to introduce a print-on-demand service instead. This allowed us to avoid unnecessary overproduction while still giving readers the option to own physical volumes when needed. It was a practical solution that aligned more closely with our values.
In 2026, we are continuing along the same path.
SIMZINE will no longer have a regularly printed magazine edition. This choice is part of an ongoing effort to reduce environmental impact, not a rejection of print culture itself. This reflects the awareness that sustainability is now more necessary than ever and requires consistency between intentions and actions, especially for cultural projects that value responsibility as much as creativity.
The shift away from print does not mean a reduction in content or editorial depth. We want to try an experiment: SIMZINE will be available as a downloadable PDF, fully designed and structured like a complete magazine.
SIMZINE, in fact, will be published in three complete language editions: English, Italian, and Spanish. Each issue will therefore exist in three separate versions, each containing all articles in full, rather than previews. This is a significant evolution from our previous model, where print offered excerpts and digital hosted the complete content. You will be able to choose your preferred language without navigating between formats or platforms.
SIMZINE will continue to place strong emphasis on design, layout, and visual identity. The absence of a printed edition does not mean abandoning editorial care. The downloadable format gives us the opportunity to preserve the magazine’s structure, pacing, and aesthetic coherence while adapting it to contemporary reading habits. While digital publishing is not without impact, it eliminates many of the most resource-intensive stages of traditional print production, particularly those related to transportation and waste. For us, this represents a more balanced and responsible approach.
As we begin 2026, we are more aware of our responsibilities. Moving forward means making deliberate choices that reflect both our values and the reality of the world in which we operate, which we can no longer ignore. We thank our readers for continuing to follow SIMZINE in its evolving form, and for engaging with the magazine in ways that support a more conscious and sustainable approach.
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