Bismarck Magazine

Each title serves a different editorial mission and audience, but all three lacked unified, scalable visual systems that could give their stories clarity, personality, and cohesion — especially across recurring issues.

Key shared challenges included:

• Translating diverse lifestyles, narratives, and reader expectations into a clear visual language

• Creating publication templates that balance editorial freedom with structural consistency

• Integrating photography, typography, and brand voice in ways that enhance — not distract from — content

• Supporting print and digital contexts with adaptable, polished layouts

Across these publications, I was responsible for building design systems that balance cultural identity, editorial nuance, and repeatable structure — ensuring each magazine feels like its own brand while maintaining best-in-class publication design.

For each title, I led the visual design and ongoing art direction:

• Layout structure and editorial systems

• Typography and visual hierarchy

• Page templates for features, departments, and storytelling variations

• Photography strategy and integration

• Color, grids, and modular systems

• Print production and vendor workflows

While I did not design the original logos for all titles, I defined and extended each publication’s visual expression through systems that reinforced brand values and narrative tone.

1. Distinct Voice for Distinct Publications

Each magazine has a unique audience and mission. I shaped their systems to reflect this:

Bismarck Magazine

Positioned as cultural commentary and lifestyle authority for the Bismarck region.

Design choices emphasize editorial rhythm, balanced hierarchy, and local nuance.

Mandan Magazine

Celebrates community stories, regional identity, and local personality.

Layouts focus on warmth, readability, and approachable storytelling.

Badlands Bride Magazine

A wedding lifestyle title with emphasis on beauty, detail, and aspirational imagery.

Design leans into expressive typography, elegant spacing, and immersive visuals.

2. Modular, Scalable Editorial Systems

For all titles, I developed systems that:

• Support multiple story lengths and formats

• Balance feature narratives with short columns

• Accommodate rich photography without compromising legibility

• Provide templates that save production time while preserving design integrity

This included grids, templates for departments and features, and standardized treatments for captions, pull quotes, and infographics.

3. Typography as Voice

Choosing expressive but readable type systems was essential:

• Establishing headline treatments that match tone (bold and modern vs elegant and refined)

• Prioritizing readability in longform content

• Creating visual distinction between departments and features

4. Photography and Pacing

Photography is integral in publishing, and my systems ensure it works as part of the story — not just decoration. This includes:

• Consistent cropping and treatment standards

• Use of full-bleed imagery where appropriate

• Strategic white space to support visual rhythm

Across all three titles, my design work delivered:

• Cohesive visual identities that enhance editorial voice

• Repeatable systems that improve efficiency without sacrificing quality

• Visual experiences that deepen reader engagement

• Increased perception of professionalism and editorial credibility

• Print production files that translate cleanly from digital design

Each publication now has a visual language that feels intentional, refined, and aligned with its audience.

This body of work highlights:

• Publication design expertise across multiple titles and missions

• Ability to balance editorial flexibility with design consistency

• Strong typographic judgment and hierarchy control

• Visual storytelling across photography, text, and pacing

• Discipline in repeatable, scalable layout systems

• Sensitivity to audience and brand voice