Visual Design

Subduction
Imagine a Magazine with a Westward Shift

Cover of Subduction showing a low reservoir and the phrase Our Water Crisis.

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A mockup of a stack of Subduction magazines.
A mockup of Subduction magazine opened to a photo essay.

Timeframe

11 weeks, solo project

Tools

InDesign, Illustrator,
Photoshop, Office Suite

Roles | Skills

Project Manager, Researcher, Photo Editor, Designer
Typography, Layout, P
Instructor: Jill Vartenigian

Challenge

Undoubtedly the West Coast leads in the key fields of technology, film and television, and online retailing. However key social and cultural issues are prioritized and driven by industries dominated by the virtual monopoly of the New York City media giants, the Ivy League’s grip on education, and the political might of the Beltway. How might a print magazine address the unique challenges of the diverse people living in the western United States?

Solution

With a design framework based on a formal organization, Subduction magazine visualizes independent thinking through bold, direct photography and thoughtful variations and interruptions of the design system. The layout allows for both long, in-depth coverage supported by expansive photography showcasing the distinct and diverse experiences of the people living and working in theWest.

Process

Understanding that the proposed magazine would revolve around long-form essays, the goal was to organize the information in a structure that felt expansive and generous and featured the photographers' contributions on an equal footing. Work by Fernando Gutiérrez provided inspiration to explore options for the grid structure with blocks of color. Importantly, selectively breaking the rules and grid structure for emphasis gave the layout a fresh, sophisticated vibe.

The opening page of the long essay The Water Wars of Arizona

Selected Page Spreads

Spread of the Table of Contents
Spread with the magazine credits and an ad from The Nature Conservancy
Opening spread of a photo essay on the Dust Bowl
Spread of a photo essay on the Dust Bowl
Opening spread of the essay Water Shortages: Why Some Californians Are Running Out in 2021 and Others Aren't
Spread from the essay A Kingdom from Dust

Inspiration

A montage of typography inspiration that are direct, organized, and purposeful.
A set of images that outline the typography inspiration that is formal, structured, and purposeful.
A set of images to illustrate the photography inspiration of vibrant, clear, unfiltered, and candid.

Final Product

A mockup of the magazine opened to the table of contents pages

Other Project

The Piano Lesson