Design
A ground-up redesign
Over the summer, I recreated our issue master file from the ground up. I sought to create a framework that was flexible yet visually cohesive. Some of the major changes I made include:
Changing the headline front from Poppins to Libre Franklin
Creating new layouts
Changing margin sizes
Improving readability by increasing font sizes
Introducing new gradient color backgrounds
Design education
As I was putting together the first issue this year, I noticed a number of problems as I was reviewing writer-submitted layouts. From my subsequent conversations with staff members, I came to realize that knowledge of Arlingtonian layout principles was lacking.
To address this, I prepared and delivered a 17-slide presentation refreshing staff members on InDesign basics while apprising them of stylistic changes I had made. The presentation was interspersed with practice opportunities so that the staff could engage in design, rather than simply be lectured at.
Selected work
I decided to make the headline especially prominent for this piece, increasing the font size and putting a sort of golden "shadow" in the foreground. (Gold and black are my school's colors.) I also set the dropcap and the Q's and A's in this color.
I went with a blue background to establish the coldness of an ice rink. There is a subtle gradient in the background. I added blue and yellow outlines to the figure skater to establish the motion -- the colors on the flag of Argentina, where the subject won her award.
I decided to make the lede/introductory paragraph much larger than the rest of the copy in order to capture the reader in.
This was a very visual layout, with plenty of pictures. I'm happy with how the golden "ribbon" at the top and bottom came out.
This piece takes a look back at the 1960s. I wanted the design to reflect this different time period. To achieve the aged-paper background effect, I brushed coffee water onto sheets of printer paper and dried them out in the oven before scanning them.
I have also designed ads for various businesses; check them out in the Marketing and Audience Engagement section. There you can also read about my efforts to create a stronger, more cohesive Arlingtonian brand.