VIS Magazine
VIS Magazine is a student publication at Ohio University produced by upperclass publication designers and commercial photographers. The publication encourages using visuals to direct the overall storytelling as opposed to merely supplementing the writing.
Challenge
My task was to produce four interior pages along with a corresponding magazine cover through my own research, writing, and page design. As Associate Editor, I also helped art direct a staff portrait, and I formatted its final layout. All pages had to use standardized colors and typefaces.
Design Solution
My article, "What's Your Typeface?" offers readers a flow-chart-style quiz that yields a typeface based on personality. To focus on the topic of typography, I emulated traditional printing techniques by incorporating textures, simplifying color to two layers, using patterns rather than tones, and simulating hand-set type with kerning. The cover design featured the director of the school so all students could recognize him and understand the field-specific jokes within the text.
All interior pages appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of VIS Magazine. "What's Your Typeface?" was also deemed one of the top designs from the semester, selected by faculty from 72 total projects.
Design Process
To create the flowchart, I began with 4 dichotomy pairs (e.g. neat vs. messy, daring vs. reserved). This yields 16 total combinations, which I assigned typefaces. I converted this into a flowchart with 16 possible endings, where each node splits into its two dichotomy options. I shuffled the vertical order of dichotomies on each branch and translated the nodes into questions.
Backdrop Magazine
Backdrop Magazine is a student publication at Ohio University that strives to disseminate the most salient and impactful news on campus. The staff consists of student journalists, photographers, and publication designers.
My Role
Provided with written content and photographs, my task was to format captivating magazine spreads while adhering to Backdrop's library of colors and typefaces.
“1414 Magazine”
1414 is a fictional client from Introduction to Visual Communication Skills
Challenge
Design a magazine cover and three unique spreads for a fictional magazine called "1414." The content must be autobiographical.
Approach
My written content focuses on insignificant idiosyncracies, and visual content features digital illustrations.
Tools
Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, ibis Paint X
