A new publication format for UW-Parkside's Perspective publication ensures timely delivery about news and events to university alumni
ABOUT PROJECT:
Communication directors from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside approached the staff at Corporate Images, Inc. with a simple problem: they needed to create a new paradigm for their alumni publication Perspective. The realized that their previous model, a 16-page or more magazine-style publication was getting mired in bureacracy and was not delivering the timely news they wanted to get out to alumni and other University supporters. To combat these issues, I lead the Corporate Images' staff to push UW-Parkside toward a simpler and smaller mailer concept that would contain just the necessary communication points. The project was designed to be completed on a short deadline of about one week from initial content drop to print deliverable, a feat we accomplished on the new form factor's first publication. Completed in summer of 2013.
Communication directors from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside approached the staff at Corporate Images, Inc. with a simple problem: they needed to create a new paradigm for their alumni publication Perspective. The realized that their previous model, a 16-page or more magazine-style publication was getting mired in bureacracy and was not delivering the timely news they wanted to get out to alumni and other University supporters. To combat these issues, I lead the Corporate Images' staff to push UW-Parkside toward a simpler and smaller mailer concept that would contain just the necessary communication points. The project was designed to be completed on a short deadline of about one week from initial content drop to print deliverable, a feat we accomplished on the new form factor's first publication. Completed in summer of 2013.
DYNAMIC LAYOUT WITH CONSISTENCY:
Designed to be an open slate, the interior of Perspective adapted to unique new content wth each issue. An underlying 11-column grid allowed the spread to carry a consistent look and feel issue after issue. Our staff choose to use the typeface Cinta
Designed to be an open slate, the interior of Perspective adapted to unique new content wth each issue. An underlying 11-column grid allowed the spread to carry a consistent look and feel issue after issue. Our staff choose to use the typeface Cinta
as the base typography for the publication because of its large range of weights as well as its mechanical yet humanistic style. It felt appropriately collegiate yet friendly.
ALTERNATIVE COVERAGES:
Non-traditional story telling elements like fast fact boxes, timelines and quizzes dotted the publication for quick scanability and to highlight positive things happening on campus and around the UW-Parkside community. In this inagural issue, the communication team at UW-Parkside choose to draw attention to the school's reach on social networks.
MULTIPLE FOLDS AND READER ENTRY POINTS:
The small mailer format allowed for a few unique layouts, adding visual interest for the reader. To engender a feeling of connection within the UW-Parkside community, I incorporated social media-sourced photography as the dominant visual image on this spread. An abbreviated calender on the right page welcomes alumni and university supporters back to the school through clear text formating and easy to scan titles.
The small mailer format allowed for a few unique layouts, adding visual interest for the reader. To engender a feeling of connection within the UW-Parkside community, I incorporated social media-sourced photography as the dominant visual image on this spread. An abbreviated calender on the right page welcomes alumni and university supporters back to the school through clear text formating and easy to scan titles.
UNIQUE DETAILS:
Subtle design choices throughout the publication build a consistent visual language reader's can understand and engage with. All horizontal lines in the publication bleed to the vertical edge and terminate in a ball terminal. Again as a way to highlight participation in university activities, I choose to bold student and staff names within the body copy.
