What an unexpected surprise! I just received volume 6, issue 1, of Before & After in my mailbox. I had subscribed to B&A back in 1995, just after I had started work at MAYA and had my first real exposure to good design.

B&A was a great resource for folks new to design. In each short issue, editor John McWade walked you thru projects that, as he said, showed you how to "design cool stuff." Surely not a substitute for more formal training in design, B&A was nevertheless part design tutor and part tool tutor (McWade would also give tips on using Photoshop or Illustrator).

Alas, some time in 1997, B&A stopped publishing. Months later, a single issue appeared, only to have the pub go down completely in 1998. In this new issue, McWade pleads mental and emotional depletion. Though my memories at the time were that subscribers weren't handled all that well...or handled at all. I think I sent an email or two (one of which may have been a bit nasty, sigh), but finally gave up on the rest of my subscription.

Well, here's credit to B&A and publisher McWade. Per the recent issue, my "subscription has remained intact" and I'm on the hook for the next two issues too. Big yeah!

So caveat emptor, but...if you'd like to learn lots more about design, I'd definitely check out Before & After. It's not for hard-core designers, and it's probably not for those who wouldn't open Photoshop or Illustrator if you paid them. But it works for me. (I'm psyched enough that I went ahead and ordered all the back issues I was missing!)

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