about depth

Depth is a monthly publication produced in the online virtual world "Second Life". Its primary purpose is to showcase designers, content creators, models, entrepreneurs and inventors in SL while taking advantage of the unique environment provided by virtual worlds to enhance the publishing experience. Depth is independently owned and operated by Kristianne Matfield and Benderoverand Hammerer and serves as a subsidiary of Duality, Inc. Reproduction of the Depth logo, magazine, any content therein or its characters, including their likenesses, is strictly prohibited without prior written consent. Depth is published monthly using the Second Life THiNC publishing system. Second Life is a registered trademark of Linden Labs to which Depth has no direct affiliation.

letter from the editor

january

Welcome to Depth! I waited until everything was done to write this letter so I could sit back and take a look at what we've put together and really introduce you to the magazine. But, there's part of me that wants to let you discover each piece on your own; so, instead I'll tell you what we've done the last month.

Ben and I were talking one afternoon in the first week of December about all the different ways we'd like to put a magazine together until it became a foregone conclusion that we were going to do one of our own. We wanted to showcase all of the different kinds of fashion in Second Life and the designers behind it. We wanted to highlight the builds and architecture. We wanted to feaure the artists of all kinds who are using every tool available to them in Second Life to produce their art. We also wanted to take advantage of the unique, limiteless environment we're provided with in SL. We wanted to do a lot, we wanted to do more. We wanted to do a magazine, but we wanted it to have... depth.

And so we began. We figured out a few of the logistics quickly. We wanted to make sure we could pull off the type of magazine that we wanted in the timeframe we'd be allottted for each issue - so, one month. And it just so happened that January 1st one was one month out. And what better way to start a new year?! We also didn't want to generate a lot of hype without actually producing a product, which we'd seen happen before. So, we decided we'd keep it on the "down low" and create the content on our own without a staff, a hierarchy or complicated "corporate" dynamics. We also wanted to avoid asking for a bunch of free product that deviated us from our original path of featuring the good stuff, the best stuff and instead left us feeling obligated to those whom we're indebted. We managed to stick pretty close to those original goals. And it wasn't easy! We had to reveal ourselves to a few of the designers and artists we worked with (and we thank them for keeping our "secret"!) and we quickly found that not using models meant that we had to change our individual looks a lot more than we were equipped to do! In the coming months, we do hope to bring you an even more diverse look than we were able to do with our two individual avatars in this issue. Overall, producing this issue has been a labor of love and there are so many elements of it and the website that I'm excited about and anxious for you all to see. I'm proud of all of it - of the designers we've featured, the products we've chosen to display, the work that Ben and I put in to pulling it off and the team that helped actualize the website, blog and directory... but there's one piece that I have to say is closest to my heart and that's a feature called "Capture". It truly goes to the crux of what I feel Second Life can provide with just a bit of imagination. I'll let you discover it on your own, but I couldn't write this without letting you know how special that piece is to me. And so I'll set you free to explore our magazine and website! We have big plans in the making and look forward to building a fantastic team to collaborate with us on the future of Depth!

Look for us on the first of the month, every month!

Happy New Year!

Kristianne Matfield
Editor-in-Chief

Review Policy:

You're welcome to send us any items that you've created for possible inclusion in the blog or magazine. Sending items does not guarantee that the item will be featured. But we will look to review copies when styling shoots and it's possible that your item will end up in a future issue.

If you decide to send something on to us, please box it or folder it up and send it on! A notecard of what you're sending or anything we should know would be helpful. We'll get back to you when we receive the item and let you know we got it!

Please label your box or folder “Review Item - Depth” as well as your name - ie, “Review Item - Depth - Joe Schmoe Designs”

Women's Clothing; House Interiors or Architecture; Objects - Please send to Kristianne Matfield
Men's Items Clothing - Please send to Benderoverand Hammerer

You will receive notice after press date if your item was used as well as information on what page to look for.

ALSO - if you think you have something that would be appropriate for one of the Capture characters, please indicate that in your note.

I think that's everything but feel free to IM and ask!

capture

andrea

One of those women who looks unnaturally perfect all the time. A product of the best family and the best education, she's in her mid 30's now and continuing to live the picture perfect life. She's never wanted for anything - or has she?

james

Precise with his appearance, his business, his wife and his attempts at cutting loose. He's yet to learn that everything in its place isn't always enough. But with his money and his lifestyle, it's hard to believe he'll learn otherwise.

tyler

He'll never tell you what the "X" stands for. He does, however, use its mystery to its full capacity as a signature line on his art. Have you ever met someone that is good at, well, everything? That's Ty. Never had to try hard, and never had a reason.

ally

She came to New York with big dreams, and soon realized that everyone does. She isn't a victim of circumstance, she's a victim of poor choices. Someday, she'll figure out who's making those choices.

topper

Most people get this jaded after seeing the amount of taxes taken out of their first paycheck, but this is different. He didn't grow up poor (by any definition), but for some reason, he's never played on the right side of the line - or the law.

hope

She hates stereotypes and will do anything to avoid being one. The former small town daddy's girl has a keen ability to see things for what they really are - good and bad. The cautious risk taker has an instinct sharper than any weapon could ever be.