Founded in 2017 in Milan by Ted Gushue, ERG Media has quickly established itself as one of the most interesting realities in the contemporary publishing scene devoted to design, automotive, and luxury culture. Their intent is crystal clear: to produce books of the highest quality, cared for at every stage (from concept to photography, to graphic design and printing).
Within a few years, ERG Media has built a solid reputation through a series of publications that, in the enthusiast world, have quickly become small cults. Among the first projects to define the group’s publishing identity is Artifacts, a volume investigating the anthropological relationship between objects, memory and automotive culture, followed by the more specialized Artifacts: Porsche Motorsport, dedicated to the sporting legacy of the Stuttgart-based manufacturer.
Overview of Erg Media publications | Credits: Erg Media
These were joined by works such as Jazz Kissa, fascinating immersion in the world of Japanese jazz cafes, Paradise Courts, a visual exploration of urban playground culture, and Arsham Motorsport, created together with artist Daniel Arsham. In parallel, the editorial project Type 7, which took shape first as a magazine and then as a series of“City Guides” dedicated to the extraordinary cities of Paris, Tokyo and Milan.
Type7 Travel Guide dedicated to Tokyo | Credits: Erg Media
It is a very consistent, almost natural path that leads today to the publication of the volume dedicated to Grand Seiko. It is an editorial project built with the same attention and care for detail that characterizes both the production of ERG Media and the philosophy of the Japanese manufacture.
“Grand Seiko” by Erg Media
Three years of work and three hundred and twenty pages are encased in a one-of-kind slipcase in hinoki cypress and cover artfully echoing the pattern in“Kumiko” technique found in the Grand Seiko Flagship Boutique in Ginza (Namiki-dori).
The recurring “Kumiko” technique in the Grand Seiko Flagship Boutique in Ginza (Namiki-dori) and featured in the slipcase and hardcover of Erg Media’s “Grand Seiko” volume
Concealed within its 9 sections (Introduction, History, Inspiration & Craftsmanship, Masterpiece, Evolution 9, Iconic, Boutiques, Museum, Calibres & Nature Inspired Dials) are exceptional photographs, archival materials, and technical insights that tell the story of the brand’s evolution from its inception in 1960 to its current position in the haute horlogerie scene.
Flipping through it, one gets the feeling that the project perfectly embodies the publishing approach that ERG Media has honed over the years, which is to make books that not only tell the story of a cultural universe, but also restore its sensory dimension.
Indeed, we are greeted by the warm, textural texture of washi paper, chosen for the introductory chapters and the section devoted to the brand’s history. The narrative then changes pace and weight: for the pages devoted to the Masterpiece, Evolution 9 and Iconic collections we witness the adoption of a glossy coated paper.
“History” and “Inspiration & Craftsmanship” sections | Credits: Erg Media
From the matte surface of the historical sections we come to the gloss of the pages devoted to contemporary collections, a subtle but effective editorial device to mark the boundary between Grand Seiko’s past and present.
Throughout the volume, textures, finishes and color palettes are carefully selected. Nothing appears superfluous or decorative, and the entire graphic design works methodologically by “subtraction,” leaving room for observation of details and dialogue between nature, photography, and watchmaking.
“Iconic” and “Boutiques” sections | Credits: Erg Media
Time, one of the central aspects of the monograph, emerges here as an experiential element, linked to the cycle of seasons and matter. And this perspective confirms to us how the brand’s philosophy and Japanese tradition in general look far beyond pure technique.
“Calibres & Nature Inspired Dials” section | Credits: Erg Media
We get towards the last pages, close the book, and remain persuaded by the romantic idea that certain themes still deserve to be told on paper, with all the patience, love and care they need.
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