Mr. Magazine™ Interview: Nick Norlen on the Power of Human Creativity

In a world of endless scrolling, AI-generated content and shrinking attention spans, Nick Norlen is building something refreshingly different. His magazine, Paper Airplane, celebrates human creativity, curiosity and the simple pleasure of turning a page.

When Nick Norlen lost his job at Dictionary.com in 2024, he decided to pursue an idea that had been taking shape in his mind. What if he could create a magazine that offered adults the same sense of discovery and enjoyment they remembered from childhood?

The result was Paper Airplane, an independent, advertising-free magazine filled with stories, artwork, puzzles, comics and unexpected discoveries. Norlen describes it as a grown-up version of Highlights, designed for readers who are curious about everything.

In his latest Mr. Magazine™ interview, Samir Husni talks with Norlen about launching a magazine in a challenging media environment, the surprising demand for print and why he believes human creativity matters more than ever.

The numbers tell an interesting story. Paper Airplane began as a digital publication, but readers quickly asked for a printed edition. Today, more than 80 percent of its subscribers choose print.

For Norlen, that enthusiasm reflects something larger than nostalgia. Readers still value the experience of holding a magazine, discovering something unexpected and spending time with content created by real people.

That commitment to human creativity is central to the publication. Norlen does not use AI to create the magazine, preferring the collaboration, experimentation and individuality that come from working directly with writers and artists.

As he tells Husni, Paper Airplane is intended to be "the exact opposite of doom scrolling."

There is also an important business story here. Building an independent, advertising-free magazine means navigating printing costs, distribution, subscriptions and the ongoing challenge of finding an audience. Norlen discusses those realities openly, along with the satisfaction of creating something readers genuinely enjoy.

For communication professionals, publishers and content creators, the conversation raises timely questions about audience engagement, the value of original content and the continuing relationship between print and digital media.

Read the full Mr. Magazine™ interview to discover how Norlen is building Paper Airplane, why he believes people are seeking more human-made experiences and what he has learned about creating a publication that readers want to spend time with.