Architectural Digest icon
Architectural Digest App: Digital Access to Design Excellence

by Advance Magazine Publishers Inc.

The Architectural Digest app delivers the renowned publication's design content digitally, offering exclusive home tours, designer profiles, and industry insights. Targets design professionals and enthusiasts seeking inspiration and industry knowledge.

Detailed Review

The Architectural Digest app serves as the digital extension of the iconic design publication, providing mobile access to curated architecture and interior design content. Developed by Advance Magazine Publishers Inc., the application positions itself as a premier resource for design professionals and enthusiasts seeking inspiration from world-class residential architecture and interior decor. The core functionality centers around digital magazine issues featuring high-quality photography of exceptional homes, profiles of leading architects and designers through the AD100 index, and coverage of art, antiques, and luxury products. The app provides early access to new issues before print distribution and maintains an archive of back issues, addressing the practical need for digital preservation of content that physical magazine subscribers might otherwise discard. User experience analysis reveals a clean, minimalist interface that prioritizes visual content, though functionality limitations have been noted across multiple device types. The absence of pinch-to-zoom capabilities for both images and text, particularly noted on iPad displays, creates accessibility challenges for users examining detailed design elements. Navigation follows conventional digital publication patterns with swipe-based page turning and categorized content browsing. User feedback consistently praises the quality of content while criticizing specific functionality limitations. Multiple reviews from 2019-2020 (Comtesse D'Art, love4italy, Marine art) document frustration with the removal of zoom features, with Marine art noting on January 31, 2020: 'Without picture zoom feature, you can no longer see details in photos up close.' More recent reviews like A_Moss (February 18, 2025) acknowledge the 'sophisticated' and 'sublimely elegant' content while requesting expanded design coverage categories. The application excels at delivering premium design content with professional photography and authoritative writing, making it valuable for design inspiration and industry education. However, interaction limitations and occasional feature regression represent significant usability concerns. The app serves best as a companion to print subscriptions rather than a full replacement, particularly for users requiring detailed examination of visual content.

Key Features

  • Digital magazine issues with early access to content before print publication, ensuring subscribers receive the latest design trends promptly
  • AD100 directory of top architects and designers, providing an industry-standard reference for professionals seeking talent
  • High-resolution photography of luxury homes and interiors, offering detailed visual inspiration for design projects
  • Back issue archive preserving historical content that physical magazine subscribers might otherwise discard
  • Designer profiles and celebrity home features, delivering behind-the-scenes access to influential design personalities
  • Content categories covering architecture, interior design, art, and antiques, creating a comprehensive design resource

Why Users Love It

Premium design content quality
Early digital access to issues

Perfect for: Design professionals and interior design enthusiasts seeking inspiration

Screenshots

Architectural Digest screenshot 1Architectural Digest screenshot 2Architectural Digest screenshot 3Architectural Digest screenshot 4Architectural Digest screenshot 5

User Reviews

Comtesse D'Art
Nov 27, 2019

Why did you have to change the fabulous format of the digital magazine? The new format is old, boring and one cannot amplify the pictures with two fingers, in fact, they took off that feature, leaving little pictures and a “demodé “ look. We are in the 21st Century, the old format was more high tech than this boring format. Let us have our magazine back to play with! The new style is not fun Why did you have to change the fabulous format of the digital magazine?The new format is old, boring and one cannot amplify the pictures with two fingers, in fact, they took off that feature, leaving little pictures and a “demodé “ look. We are in the 21st Century, the old format was more high tech than this boring format. Let us have our magazine back to play with!

love4italy
Feb 2, 2020

I love the magazine but not able to zoom in on pictures anymore makes one miss important details. Being able to zoom allowed to look into small details, which are as important as the big picture, sometimes more as they all together make the big picture. I wish they would bring it back. I asked and was told most likely not; so sad. Update 2/2/20: They brought the zoom in function back, which is great. The magazine still has some minor glitches, especially when swiping pages or the occasional mistake of having the incorrect footnote, however, the content is always great. I love this magazine and will continue to get it. No more zoom capability - It’s back again! I love the magazine but not able to zoom in on pictures anymore makes one miss important details. Being able to zoom allowed to look into small details, which are as important as the big picture, sometimes more as they all together make the big picture. I wish they would bring it back. I asked and was told most likely not; so sad.Update 2/2/20:They brought the zoom in function back, which is great. The magazine still has some minor glitches, especially when swiping pages or the occasional mistake of having the incorrect footnote, however, the content is always great.I love this magazine and will continue to get it.

Marine art
Jan 31, 2020

What happened? A perfectly fine way to read AD was made essentially useless by redesign. Without a text zoom feature, you can no longer read the text on an iPad. Without the picture zoom feature, you can no longer see details in photos up close. If you can’t read the type and can’t enlarge the pictures, what good is this app? Very disappointed with this. I will stop reading until a fix is made. The recent necessary fix to this app completely made it useful and loved again. Thank you for paying attention to your faithful readers...much appreciated! Totally useless app What happened? A perfectly fine way to read AD was made essentially useless by redesign. Without a text zoom feature, you can no longer read the text on an iPad. Without the picture zoom feature, you can no longer see details in photos up close. If you can’t read the type and can’t enlarge the pictures, what good is this app? Very disappointed with this. I will stop reading until a fix is made.The recent necessary fix to this app completely made it useful and loved again. Thank you for paying attention to your faithful readers...much appreciated!

A_Moss
Feb 18, 2025

This publication is sophisticated. It does a splendid job of curating and inspiring interior design ideas and related designers. Adding to all of this are celebrities. Yes, AD features their homes too. The results? Sublimely elegant content. Why a 4 Star rating? I would love to see more industrial design. I would also interviews with overlooked industrial architects — especially young and overlooked ones. Lovely This publication is sophisticated. It does a splendid job of curating and inspiring interior design ideas and related designers. Adding to all of this are celebrities. Yes, AD features their homes too. The results? Sublimely elegant content. Why a 4 Star rating? I would love to see more industrial design. I would also interviews with overlooked industrial architects — especially young and overlooked ones.

wehokev
Jul 8, 2022

I still get the paper copy. But I love the extra pictures and the ability to see the latest issues before it arrives in my mailbox as well as back issues I’ve long since recycled. The only thing that is missing from this app as a way to share articles from within the app. I wish I could share my favorite articles with my friends. Condé Nast, add sharing and I’ll change my rating to five stars. Great Magazine App I still get the paper copy. But I love the extra pictures and the ability to see the latest issues before it arrives in my mailbox as well as back issues I’ve long since recycled. The only thing that is missing from this app as a way to share articles from within the app. I wish I could share my favorite articles with my friends. Condé Nast, add sharing and I’ll change my rating to five stars.

App Details

Developer

Advance Magazine Publishers Inc.

Platform

ios

Rating

4.7

Last Updated

9/7/2025