Black Dog Publishing

Black Dog Publishing is a British publishing company associated with highly designed, illustrated non-fiction books about contemporary culture. Founded by Duncan McCorquodale in 1993, the company developed a catalogue spanning architecture, art, craft, design, the environment, fashion, film, music and photography. Its books are positioned between commercial publishing and the art, design and cultural-institution sectors, with an emphasis on visual presentation and comparatively high production values. The publisher’s output has included monographs, biographies, thematic cultural studies, institutional publications, series-based projects and practical books. Among the subjects and projects associated with its catalogue are the Labels Unlimited and Edge Futures series, publications connected with Art on the Underground, the official book of the London Eye, and Riot Grrrl: Revolution Girl Style Now!, a study of the Riot Grrrl movement. Its biographical and monographic subjects have included Charlemagne Palestine, Alvar Aalto, Colin St John Wilson, Tod Browning and Jean-Luc Godard. The breadth of these titles reflects the company’s interest in the intersection of visual culture, popular culture, architecture, design history and contemporary artistic practice. Black Dog also worked with external cultural and media partners. In 2007 it collaborated with The Guardian newspaper on Making Stuff for Kids, an instructional craft title aimed at children. Its list of contributors and authors has included Rob Young, Lydia Lunch, Bob and Roberta Smith, Carolee Schneemann, Phyllida Barlow, Beth Ditto, Peter Wollen, Suzanne Treister and Karen Knorr. These collaborations helped associate the imprint with artists, writers, musicians, critics and cultural practitioners rather than with a single narrowly defined genre. The company experienced a major financial setback in January 2018, when it entered liquidation with reported debts exceeding £700,000. The assets of Black Dog were subsequently acquired by St James’s House Media Group, which has continued to operate the Black Dog name. Because the available reference material does not provide a detailed account of the post-acquisition publishing programme, the present scale, management structure and exact operating footprint of the brand remain unclear. The brand is therefore best understood as an active publishing imprint or publishing business under new ownership, with a legacy catalogue rooted in illustrated non-fiction and contemporary cultural publishing.

Black Dog Publishing was founded in the United Kingdom by Duncan McCorquodale in 1993. From its beginnings, the company concentrated on illustrated non-fiction concerned with contemporary culture rather than limiting itself to a conventional trade category. Its publishing territory included architecture, art, craft, design, environmental issues, fashion, film, music and photography. The imprint’s identity was closely tied to the visual quality of its books, and the company described its approach as daring and innovative, with particular attention to production standards. The catalogue developed through several formats. Black Dog published subject-led books and biographies, series titles, cultural studies, institutional projects and books linked to major public or artistic initiatives. Its associated projects included the Labels Unlimited and Edge Futures series, a sequence of books produced in connection with Art on the Underground, and the official book of the London Eye. It also published Riot Grrrl: Revolution Girl Style Now!, addressing the Riot Grrrl movement and its relationship to music, feminism and youth culture. Biographical and monographic publishing formed another part of the list. Black Dog titles examined figures such as Charlemagne Palestine, Alvar Aalto, Colin St John Wilson, Tod Browning and Jean-Luc Godard. The company’s contributors represented a broad cultural network, including Rob Young, Lydia Lunch, Bob and Roberta Smith, Carolee Schneemann, Phyllida Barlow, Beth Ditto, Peter Wollen, Suzanne Treister and Karen Knorr. This range illustrates the publisher’s interest in combining critical writing, visual documentation and creative practice. The company also extended its publishing activity into accessible practical content. In 2007, it collaborated with The Guardian newspaper on Making Stuff for Kids, a craft and instructional book designed for children. The project demonstrated that the imprint could apply its design-oriented approach beyond specialist art and architecture audiences. Black Dog Publishing encountered severe financial difficulty in January 2018 and entered liquidation while owing more than £700,000, according to the available reference account. Its assets were later acquired by St James’s House Media Group, which continued to run the Black Dog business or imprint. The acquisition preserved the brand and its catalogue after the liquidation, although the available sources do not establish the detailed structure of the post-2018 operation, its current publishing schedule, or whether all historical activities continue unchanged. Consequently, Black Dog’s documented history is strongest for its pre-liquidation period, while its current status and operating scope warrant further verification.

• 2018

  Liquidation and asset acquisition

  [1]Black Dog Publishingen.wikipedia.org

  Black Dog Publishing entered liquidation in January with reported debts above £700,000; St James’s House Media Group subsequently acquired its assets.

• 2007

  Making Stuff for Kids published with The Guardian

  [1]Black Dog Publishingen.wikipedia.org

  The publisher collaborated with The Guardian on an instructional craft book for children.

• 1993

  Black Dog Publishing founded

  [1]Black Dog Publishingen.wikipedia.org

  Duncan McCorquodale founded Black Dog Publishing in the United Kingdom.

A visually led cultural publisher emphasizing ambitious subject matter, collaboration with artists and institutions, and high production values in illustrated non-fiction.

• Book series

  Labels Unlimited

  A Black Dog Publishing series addressing labels and labeling as cultural, social or design subjects. The available reference material identifies the series as part of the company’s catalogue but does not provide complete bibliographic details for individual volumes.

• Book series

  Edge Futures

  A series associated with Black Dog’s interest in emerging or forward-looking cultural themes. The reference material confirms the series’ existence but does not specify its full publication chronology or complete list of titles.

• Institutional art publications

  Art on the Underground books

  Books produced in connection with Art on the Underground, the programme associated with artistic activity in the London Underground environment. These publications reflect Black Dog’s work with cultural institutions and public-art projects.

• Landmark and visitor publication

  The official London Eye book

  An official illustrated publication about the London Eye. The title exemplifies Black Dog’s work on visually oriented books connected with major public landmarks and visitor attractions.

• Music and cultural history

  Riot Grrrl: Revolution Girl Style Now!

  A book about the Riot Grrrl movement, a cultural and musical phenomenon associated with feminist politics, punk and independent music. Its subject matter illustrates Black Dog’s engagement with contemporary popular culture as well as art and design.

• Children’s craft and activity book · 2007

  Making Stuff for Kids

  An instructional craft book for children produced in collaboration with The Guardian newspaper in 2007. It broadened the publisher’s audience beyond specialist cultural and artistic readerships.

• 2018

  Entered liquidationOther

  Background

  Black Dog Publishing faced financial distress and entered liquidation in January 2018 with reported debts exceeding £700,000.

  Action taken

  The company was placed into liquidation, after which its assets were acquired by St James’s House Media Group.

  Aftermath

  St James’s House Media Group continued operating the Black Dog name. The available sources do not provide a detailed account of the post-acquisition structure or subsequent publishing programme.

  Reported debt. More than £700,000 owed at liquidation (January 2018)

  Source

• 2018

  Black Dog assets acquired by St James’s House Media GroupM&A

  Background

  The acquisition followed Black Dog Publishing’s liquidation and concerned the company’s assets and continuing brand operation.

  Action taken

  St James’s House Media Group acquired the assets and took over operation of the Black Dog name.

  Aftermath

  The Black Dog brand continued under new ownership, although the available reference material does not specify the transaction terms or subsequent management.

  Source

1. 1Black Dog Publishingen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Black Dog Publishing official websiteblackdogonline.com