Industry Spotlight: A Start-Up Magazine Looks to Write a Beautiful Love Letter to Detroit

Native Michigander Alex Trajkovski moved back home from New York City, and wanted to do something to show the world what Detroit is really all about. Fast forward to Grand Circus magazine, and his dreams of telling Detroit's story are inches away from coming true. You can support his efforts, too - but you have to keep reading to find out how!

DGG: Tell us about yourself, Alex.

Alex Trajkovski: I’m a graphic designer living in Detroit and dedicated to making a worthwhile magazine about our culture. I’m on a personal journey to try every Coney in the city limits.

DGG: Tell us about Grand Circus Magazine.

AT: The purpose of Grand Circus Magazine is the show the world about Detroit. The city is so misunderstood, but it’s actually the best place in America, and we want to convey that to our readers. It’s a full on 7 Mile to Belle Isle survey of Detroit life – we cover design, business, urbanism, art, music, and things of that nature. 

DGG: Why did you want to start this up, and what have been some of the trials and tribulations you have encountered with the start up?

AT: I wanted to start this magazine when I was living in NYC, and I came to realize that nobody knows anything about Detroit. They might be able to parrot something they read about the bankruptcy, but they have no idea about the Guardian Building or The Redford Theater or Haute to Death or any other Detroit institutions.

The biggest hurdle is actually getting funded. We have been raising money on Indiegogo right now. It’s a little pricey because we want to use the highest quality materials – we want to make it a beautiful love letter to Detroit.

DGG: When does the first issue come out?

AT: Hopefully, it will be ready by the end of April. Check our website and Facebook page, or follow us on Instagram at @_grandcircus to stay updated!

DGG: If someone wanted to start a magazine and came to you for advice, what would you tell them?

AT: It’s not what you’re going to expect it to be, but in the best possible way. You need to use your network and reach out to a lot of writers and photographers, and also make an effort to meet new people. Also, try and change the paradigm and do something new - find and fill the gaps.

DGG: Who is the Grand Circus team?

AT: Eileen Tjan and I make the magazine. Eileen is such an amazing designer that I’m literally in awe when I watch her work. She has her own graphic studio (OTHER Studio) that you should check out. She’s a genius. Then we have Paulina Petkoski from Playground Detroit, who was the first person I reached out to for help, when we were a pair of  grumbling Detroiters living in the Big Apple (telling everyone how awesome Detroit is and how much Brooklyn sucks). Paulina is indispensable - another extremely brilliant mover-and-shaker who is like a mentor to me. Alex Hoxie completes the dream team. He’s the Photo Editor - an incredibly talented old friend of mine whom we’re lucky to have on board. He did a great job with a series we did on Yamasaki architecture for this issue. 

Our team has worked with a ton of great contributors, as well, including Michelle and Chris Gerard, Ellen Rutt, Kristin Adamcyk, Shane Ford, and more, ranging from illustrators to art directors to writers. It grew a lot bigger than I anticipated.

DGG: Describe your style.

AT: Normcore.

DGG: How do you take your coffee?

AT: From Anthology. I miss the Ardi (Ethopia).

DGG: Dazed & Confused or Interview Magazine?

AT: Dazed & Confused, even though I was lucky enough to intern at Interview Magazine when I was just a dumb kid.

DGG: Anna Wintour or Glenda Bailey?

AT: Glenda Bailey, for sure.