KUALA LUMPUR, March 2, 2026 — Independent design magazine CUTOUT marked the launch of its latest issue, ZERO, with a sharing session led by its co founders, Vivian Toh and Jay Lim, at Eslite Spectrum Kuala Lumpur on 28  February 2026. The launch took place within “The Independent Era” — a curated  exhibition reflecting over a decade of documenting Malaysia’s design community  through print, editorial conversations, and visual storytelling. 

The session drew an audience of about 70 attendees, bringing together long-time  supporters and new faces in what felt like a genuine coming-together of the old  and the new.

Founded in 2010, CUTOUT was conceived as a practitioner-led platform — a  magazine created by designers, for designers. “CUTOUT was never intended as  an observer of the design scene, but as a participant within it,” said Vivian Toh.  “The exhibition reflects not only our publication’s journey, but the many designers,  collaborators, and conversations that shaped its pages.” 

On view since 16 January and extended until 31 March 2026, “The Independent  Era” exhibition presents archival photographs and editorial artefacts that trace  CUTOUT’s journey, while reflecting the broader evolution of Malaysia’s  independent design scene. 

During the sharing session titled “CUTOUT: Then, Now, Next”, the co-founders  revisited the magazine’s journey — the pause, the rebuild, and what comes next  — including a walk down memory lane of CUTOUT’s iconic moments, and the  stories behind the publication’s most defining chapters. 

Issue ZERO represents a reset — much like starting afresh with a clean canvas. It  marks the beginning of CUTOUT’s new chapter: a return to why the magazine  existed in the first place, and a deeper connection to the community that shaped it. The co-founders shared that the “circle” begins again here — and in many ways,  it already did: with the people who showed up for the launch.

As CUTOUT continues to evolve, its editorial direction has expanded beyond its  original focus on graphic design and pop culture toward a broader exploration of  creative identity. Reflecting this shift, the magazine has adopted a new tagline,  “For the creative soul of the universe.” The theme nods to “You’ll Never Walk  Alone,” reflecting CUTOUT’s belief that independent publishing is sustained by  community — and that this new chapter begins by rebuilding the circle together. 

Despite the global shift toward digital media, CUTOUT continues to prioritise print  as a deliberate editorial choice. “Print creates presence,” said Jay Lim. “A physical  magazine slows down reading, invites revisiting, and becomes an artefact that can  be archived. For us, it’s less about format preference and more about preserving  design discourse in a tangible way.” 

Throughout the sharing session, the co-founders expressed their appreciation to  everyone who has been part of the journey — past and present — and to those  who continue to support independent publishing and design culture. The launch  event concluded with a signing session, where attendees took home signed  copies of Issue ZERO — closing the afternoon on a personal note of connection  and gratitude. 

Together, the exhibition and issue launch reflect CUTOUT’s ongoing commitment  to fostering dialogue within Malaysia’s creative community, while highlighting the  role of independent publishing as a cultural archive. 

Event Details 

(1) Exhibition: The Independent Era 

 Venue: Eslite Spectrum Kuala Lumpur 

 Dates: 16 January – 31 March 2026 

 New Issue Launch: CUTOUT Issue ZERO 

(2) Public Sharing Session: “CUTOUT: Then, Now, Next” (completed)  Venue: Eslite Spectrum Kuala Lumpur 

 Date: 28 February 2026 

 Time: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM 

 Speakers: Vivian Toh (Editor-in-Chief) & Jay Lim (Creative Director)

 

 

About CUTOUT 

Founded in 2010, CUTOUT is an award-winning independent design and creative  culture magazine from Malaysia. Built alongside the founders’ studio practice,  TSUBAKI, it began as a fun, community-facing platform — covering happenings  across the design scene, hosting talks and a radio show, and bringing people  together through events and roadshows. Today, CUTOUT is evolving into a more  intentional editorial platform, exploring creative identity and cultural dialogue. At its  core is a kidult spirit — curious, playful, and connected. CUTOUT has been  recognised internationally, including the Golden Pin Design Award (2014, Visual  Communication), Red Dot Design Award (2015), and iF Design Award (2022). 

Media / Partnerships / Collaboration Enquiries 

Vivian Toh 

Email: cutoutmagazine@gmail.com

Mobile: 016-655 1757