More than the Moustache

This project was an opportunity to slow down and elevate an existing academic assignment into a professional, industry-ready editorial publication. Building on a previously written designer feature article, I refined both the content and the visual system to create a cohesive magazine experience that mirrors real-world editorial and publishing standards.

Rather than treating the magazine as a collection of pages, I approached it as a system. I revisited the article’s structure to strengthen narrative flow, then applied proportional type scales, clear typographic hierarchy, and consistent grid systems to guide readers through complex information with clarity and rhythm. Each design decision—spacing, alignment, column structure, and scale—was intentional and rooted in established editorial design principles.

The refinement phase focused on precision and restraint. I reduced visual noise, tightened hierarchy, and ensured consistency across spreads while allowing for variation where it supported emphasis and pacing. This process reinforced the importance of balancing creative expression with discipline—designing layouts that are visually engaging while remaining readable, scalable, and publication-ready.

This project reflects my ability to translate research-driven content into a polished editorial format, refine work through iteration, and design with the expectations of professional publishing in mind.