GPAD is launching Common, a new collaborative hard-copy newspaper created to share the ideas, reflections and conversations that shape our work.

Common is not an architecture journal. It is an anti-journal: a space for the ideas, reflections and discussions that sit beside the physical product of architecture and design. It is not about polished projects or perfect images, but about people — collaborators, thinkers, makers — and the shared ground between us.

In a fast, noisy, increasingly digital world, we wanted to make something tangible. Something you can hold, spend time with, return to. A physical newspaper felt like the right format: immediate but lasting, accessible but considered. It asks for a different kind of attention, away from notifications, scrolling and snap reactions. It creates space to pause, reflect and talk about what matters.

Our first issue brings together a range of voices and perspectives. Inside, you’ll find reflections on the ‘missing middle’, conversations on inclusivity in the industry, spotlights on practices and collaborators, and thoughts on value, low-carbon tools and the future of offices. Home renovation stories sit alongside discussions on colour psychology in interior design. Together, they span disciplines and viewpoints, grounded in practice but open to different ways of thinking.

This first issue is just the beginning. Common will continue to evolve, as we do. At its heart is a commitment to staying curious, open and connected — to the exchanges that shape our work and keep ideas moving.

The first issue of the annual paper will launch on 24/04/26 at a party and ideas-share in Clerkenwell, bringing together contributors, collaborators and people from across the design community.