Growing up in Michigan, Ryan Fitzgibbon braved the snow delivering newspapers to his local community. What he didn’t realize at the time was that his devotion to distributing important information would someday become a career.
For the past four years, Fitzgibbon has been publishing Hello Mr., a slick magazine about men who date men. In an age when print is supposedly dead or dying, Hello Mr. thrives by offering a universal voice to the ever-growing, ever-changing gay community.
Leading up to Hello Mr., Fitzgibbon’s graphic design and brand background landed him at IDEO, one of the largest design firms in the world. And before that, he spent years traveling to major cities, from London and San Francisco to New York and Melbourne, studying the power of visual language: using images to tell stories without the help of words.
It was in 2012, when Fitzgibbon arrived in Australia, that he started rebranding gay. In the throes of the discussion about same-sex marriage, Fitzgibbon saw the media continually telling the same visual story: a singular narrative of parades, flags, and rainbows. He created a magazine that allowed the community to speak for itself. It was a groundbreaking way for men to connect through photography, stories, articles, and the letters you always wanted to write your ex but never did.
Because his magazine is a testament to being open to new experiences, Fitzgibbon gets a lot of coming-out letters. The story that sticks out most is that of a young boy who said that the crux of his coming out journey was keeping the magazine on him throughout his day, holding it cover out, and wearing it as a badge. Carrying around this piece of physical pride is the hope Fitzgibbon has for all Hello Mr. readers; he wants it to be a badge for anybody needing inspiration.
Fitzgibbon says that receiving such heartfelt feedback from readers is his “main source of motivation.”
“Knowing that what I’ve made not only resonates, but has a deep connection to our reader’s identity, is the ultimate reward,” he says. “It’s validation, something we all want in our work.”
But it’s not just growth among his readers that he’s witnessed since creating the magazine.
Publishing was entirely new to me, so everything was a learning process in the beginning and sometimes still is,” Fitzgibbon says. “I’m still making mistakes and learning every day. Pursuing something this deeply and persistently requires patience. We’re fools to believe in overnight successes—they simply don’t exist.”
Following the magazine’s inaugural volume, there have been Instagram posts and Snapchat stories, but the goal is to keep the physical magazine the main catalyst in promoting connection within the gay community. One of the best ways the WeWork Williamsburg member has brought readers together is through Hello Mr.’s Valentine’s soirée “Hello Love.” Guests come to celebrate love, dancing, and their lonely hearts on the holiday Fitzgibbon says is “classically clichéd.” The event, held in Williamsburg, gifted its 600 attendees with a free skate at The Rink at The Standard Hotel. (Hello, date night).
Fitzgibbon, an early riser, spends most mornings curating the magazine, creating content for his 64,000 Instagram followers, and answering emails from readers. But regardless of where you encounter Hello Mr.—whether it be on the shelf of your local Barnes & Noble, your most recent like on social media, or someone on the street holding a copy, proudly, cover out—know Fitzgibbon’s message is all about love. Say hello to feeling comfortable in your own skin.
Photos: Katelyn Perry