Niche Magazine: Brand Guidelines & Print Design

Magazine design Magazine Cover magazine layout graphic design branding print design

By: Ali Ibanez (ARTD 444)

Overview:

Niche Magazine is an editorial magazine designed to provide coverage on media forms and content that have had revolutionary impacts on the film industry, placing a specific emphasis on material that is labeled “niche” or “obscure” and is oftentimes overshadowed or forgotten to history.

This specific edition of the magazine focuses on niche and forgotten films from the last 50 years. It's purpose is to expose audiences that are predisposed to short bursts of entertainment (undoubtedly a result of the social media and streaming services epidemic) to original and revolutionary films to encourage thought-provoking discovery and appreciation of said niche and forgotten films.

Mission Statement:

Niche Magazine: Forgotten Film Edition provides coverage and appreciation to niche, obscure, or forgotten film in the industry over the last 50 years in US and European film industries and aims to facilitate community and discovery of these films through engaging and intriguing editorial and analytical content.

Target Audiences:

GenZ/iGen and Gen Alpha;
- Ages 13-25
- Audiences with preference to media that requires short attention.
- Audiences that require encouragement in discovery and appreciation in film it's industry.

BRAND GUIDELINES:

Typefaces and Type Treatment

Color Palette:

The Logo:

MOCKUPS:

The Cover:

The front cover includes the horizontal variation of the magazine's logo as the title of the edition and the month of the issue (Forgotten Film; February 2024).

The front cover coincides with the back cover seamlessly in an artistic collage of niche cinema, some of which are discussed in the magazine itself.

The back cover includes the magazine's tagline: "Discover More" as well as copy that introduces the two feature articles within the issue.

Six of the Issue's Best Spreads:

Above is the masthead (left page) and an Editor's letter (right page) for the February issue of Niche Magazine. The masthead credits the creative/copy team as well as contributors for this issue and the Editor's letter introduces readers to the issue's content through personal experience.

The Pen is Just as Mighty as the Sword is feature article written by the editor that revolves around the 2023 Writer's Strike and informs readers of major players, timelines, and impacts in the film industry.

Photo feature spread of the Editor's Top 5 Movie Favorites which include films such as The Labyrinth, Pulp Fiction, The Terminal, Treasure Planet, and Ten Inch Hero.

Back to back spreads of a Stanley Kubrick sidebar and the start of Feature Fatigue, a short article that describes a handful of reasons why some Niche film flies under the radar while big-budget films and franchises take the spotlight.