Campus Canvas
Campus Canvas is a magazine that celebrates campus architectural designs from around the world. This issue focuses on the unique design style of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). The architecture of the university reflects a blend of modernity and functionality, with a minimalistic aesthetic that transitions seamlessly into the natural surroundings. The goal of this project is to capture and communicate the essence of this design style in both print and digital formats.
Role
Graphic Design
Tools
Adobe InDesign
Duration
Oct 2024 (1 month)
Mock Up
Print Design
Digital Design
Creative Process
- Research and Inspiration:
- The project draws inspiration from existing magazine designs, especially architecture magazines. These references provided insights into clean layouts, consistent photo treatments, and strong typography hierarchies.
- Concept Development
- Considering CUHK’s minimalistic and geometric architectural style, a structured grid layout with rectangular elements was chosen.
- The design aims at reflecting the minimalistic and functional aesthetic of CUHK’s architecture.
Style Guide
- Color Palette:
- To maintain a minimalist aesthetic, the magazine’s color palette is derived primarily from the carefully chosen photographs.
- Gray: Inspired by the campus's concrete architecture, create a clean, minimalistic foundation while emphasizing the modern style.
- Blue: Symbolizes tranquility and aligns with the open sky.
- Green:Represents the greenery that complement the rigid architectural forms.
- Typography:
- Futura: Used in cover titles and headings. Futura Condensed Medium is chosen particularly for headings, as its narrow forms echo the verticality of the campus buildings.
- Minion Variable Concept: Used in body text. The serif font was selected for its high readability and academic feel, matching the university’s intellectual atmosphere.
- Graphic Elements:
- All graphic elements and photos follow a rectangular structure to reflect the rigid, minimalist architectural style of the campus.
- The use of negative space emphasizes the modern aesthetic while ensuring the layout remains clean and organized.
Digital Design
A digital version of the magazine is designed, allowing it to be accessed through digital devices like tablets and desktop as well.
Major Adjustments:
- Landscape Layout:
- The layout is changed from portrait view to landscape view to fit the viewport of tablet and desktop.
- Interactive Element:
- An interactive table of content is added to allow easy navigation.
- Animations:
- Animations were added to enhance user experience.
- Font Size:
- Font sizes are enlarged to enhance comfort while reading on a digital device.
Reflection and Learnings
- Designing across both print and digital formats enhanced my understanding of how layouts need to adapt to different mediums.
- Incorporating interactive elements and animations in Adobe InDesign provided an opportunity to expand my skill set in digital design.
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