Project Brief
In groups of two, we had to choose a social issue we were passionate about addressing. We then conducted thorough research to understand the root causes, impacts, and stakeholders involved in the chosen issue. Using the research as the basis of our design process, we were tasked with designing two covers and a 16-page editorial centered around our chosen topic. Each designer was responsible for designing one cover and 8 pages of content.
We were assigned The Washington Post as the magazine publication we were to "work" under. Our design had to adhere to The Washington Post design system and branding. In other words, we had to design a spread the Post could potentially release.
Because the Palestine-Israel conflict has been in recent news, we chose it as our social issue. We wrote a 2500-3000 word article based on our research, which became the main content for our spread. We each had to contribute our own visuals to enhance the article's message. Specifically, each designer had to contribute at least one illustration, one photograph, and one typographic element.
Washington Post Magazine: In-Depth Analysis
Publication Details: Starting 1877, the Washington Post is one of the oldest news publications. However, the Washington Post Magazine didn’t start until 1986 and actively published Sunday magazines until December 2022. The Washington Post's mission statement declares it is its duty to “engage, inform and entertain the most influential minds." The Post aims to shape the world through quality news coverage and analysis. It prides itself on journalistic excellence and unparalleled access to information. Their dedication to finding the truth has made them a trusted source amongst readers for decades.
Target Audience: Local Washington D.C. readers, regional readers, national readers, and global readers. Most of their readers are aged 30-49 years. All of their readers read the Washington Post to inform, since it is an informative publication and not made for entertainment.
Editorial Design: The Washington Post uses a three-grid system to organize its text and images. It uses photos, illustrations, maps, and more to deliver information alongside their texts.
They use serif typefaces (Postoni or Garamond) for their headlines, and for their body copy, they use Georgia or Times New Roman. They use sans-serif typefaces (Franklin or Arial) for subheaders and metatext.
Research
The first step of this project was to write out articles. We seperated our magazine into four sections: The History of Palestine and Israel, The Current State of Gaza, Background on Hamas, and the recent attack on the Al-Shifa hospital. We made sure to use unbiased articles with the most current information.
Resources:
ABC News, ABC News Network, abcnews.go.com/International/timeline-surprise-rocket-attack-hamas-israel/story?id=103816006. Accessed 11 Nov. 2023.
“Key Issues at Stake - Question of Palestine.” United Nations, United Nations, www.un.org/unispal/permanent-status-issues/. Accessed 11 Nov. 2023.
Shams, A. (2023, November 10). “they don’t want people to know we exist.” Intelligencer. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/west-bank-palestine-october-7.html
Staff, Al Jazeera. “What’s the Israel-Palestine Conflict about? A Simple Guide.” Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 15 Oct. 2023, www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/9/whats-the-israel-palestine-conflict-about-a-simple-guide.
Al Jazeera. (2023, November 17). More than 20 patients die at Gaza’s al-Shifa Hospital amid Israeli raid. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/17/more-than-20-patients-die-at-gazas-al-shifa-hospital-amid-israeli-raid
NBCUniversal News Group. (2023, November 20). Premature babies evacuated from Gaza’s al-Shifa Hospital, arrive in Egypt. NBCNews.com. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/31-babies-evacuated-gazas-biggest-hospital-250-patients-remain-al-shif-rcna125916
Team, the V. J. (2023, December 8). Gaza Strip in maps: How life has changed in two months. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-20415675 Creating the Illustration Elements
Jude: For my first illustration, I wanted to create two maps. The maps would demonstrate how the land owned by Palestine has become less and less as Israel has occupied more land. I traced the areas owned by Israel and the areas owned by Palestine and I color coded them so the owned areas are apparent to the viewer. I also added a key to make the territories even more apparent to the viewer.
For my second illustration, I wanted to demonstrate the situation of the Palestinians being forced out of Gaza in the current day, comparing it to the Nabka of 1948. I used an image from the recent evacuation of Gazans to the south of Gaza due to heavy Israeli bombing in the north. I played with the color and form of the image, changing it into the colors of the Palestinian flag: black, white, green, and red. I added some Palestinian flags and also stamps to create the idea that a place with so much culture and history is being drastically changed in real time.
Quinton: My illustration was inspired by a photo taken by John Minchillo. The illustration captures a member of Hamas, staring off into the distance. I opted for a collage style, incorporating multiple elements, like typography, hand-drawn lines, and paint splatters. The illustration is delivered in fractured pieces and has a grunge-like quality to it This is symbolic of the conflict taking place in Palestine and the opposing parties involved. Similar to how we receive pieces of the story through the news, the illustration is in pieces.
Creating the Photography Elements
Jude: For my photography element, I used images from my favorite photographer, Motaz Azaiza, who is currently in Gaza, documenting everything that is happening from a first-person perspective. I chose images that show first hand what the Palestinians are experiencing, and make the viewer aware of the situation.
Quinton: I included two photographs in my spread. The first photograph is from Getty Images and was provided by Chris McGrath. The photograph captures a group of Hamas militants as they attend a military show in Gaza City. I chose this photo because it does an excellent job of humanizing the Hamas group, whom so many label as terrorists. My partner, Jude, took the second photo while she attended a protest in Washington D.C. The protest was in support of Palestine in the wake of Israel's bombing of Gaza. The photograph shows the conflict's impact on a global scale, not just in Palestine.
Creating the Typography Elements
Jude: For my typography element, I used a quote from photographer Motaz Azaiza, where he writes about how Gazans are "born only to suffer" because every Gazan has faced violence from Israel since their birth. I placed this quote over a picture taken by Motaz of a Gazan girl in a camp drinking water.
Quinton: For my typographic element, I used a quote from the article that stuck out to me: "We are left with nothing, no power, no water, no food." I used Neue Haas Grotesk Display Pro because it is a clean, san-serif typeface that delivers a message well. I masked a gradient in the colors of the Palestinian flag inside the type and paired this against a black background, which made the type stand out. I displayed the type horizontally to break up the typical display one would expect to see in a magazine. This made the type more unique.
Final covers
Jude: For my cover, I used another image by Motaz Azaiza that shows the damage that has been done to Gaza's homes, along with two Gazan women playing with their babies despite the catastrophe surrounding them. I figured this image displays Palestinian perseverance well. I took inspiration from other Washington Post Magazines and used their logo at the top, along with the date. I also added some information about what the inside of the magazine talks about.
Quinton: For the cover, I used a photo of a displaced Palestinian citizen. The original photo was colored, but I decided to change it to black and white and added a grain texture to capture the seriousness of the conflict. I also added a vignette, making the edges of the photo darker. This draws the viewer's attention to the subject in the foreground. The cover's subhead is Garamond, a typeface used within the magazine spread. I did this to create consistency between the outside and inside the magazine.
Final spreads
Magazine Mockups
