Magazine Design

Magazine Design Brief
Title: Mythos
Category: Editorial Design / Print & Digital

Target Audience:
Writers, aspiring authors, and passionate readers of fantasy fiction—particularly those drawn to world-building,folklore, myth-inspired storytelling, and speculative writing communities.

Background:
Fantasy fiction continues to thrive across books, film, games, and fan communities, yet few literary magazines cater specifically to the creative and editorial interests of fantasy authors and readers. This project aimed to explore the visual identity of a publication that celebrates fantasy storytelling while providing a platform for interviews,writing prompts, and craft advice.

Design Problem:
Despite the rich depth and popularity of the fantasy genre, there are few visually engaging editorial platforms that celebrate both the craft of writing and the imaginative spirit of fantasy literature. Existing publications tend to be text-heavy or genre-unspecific, lacking the immersive quality that fantasy readers and writers crave. The challenge was to create a publication that feels both editorially professional and emotionally connected to the world-building, mysticism, and creative passion that define the genre. The magazine needed to balance structured design with a whimsical, narrative-driven aesthetic to truly resonate with its audience.

Mockups

Design Solution: The final design introduces a flexible grid that brings clarity and consistency to article layouts, sidebars, and image placement. A serif display typeface with fantasy-inspired embellishments anchors the masthead and headings, while a clean sans serif ensures readability for body text. Earthy jewel tones and desaturated accent colors evoke a magical, old-world tone. Photo quality and composition were refined to better support editorial storytelling. Overall, the solution balances editorial structure with the imaginative spirit of the fantasy genre.

Software Used:

Adobe Photoshop
Adobe InDesign

Process



Design Process:
I began by identifying key audience traits and fantasy visual language, researching successful editorial layouts,and gathering inspiration from genre artwork, old storybooks, and modern indiezines. I then sketched initial layouts before moving to InDesign. Color and typography exploration helped establish a mood appropriate for the genre. Grid systems were applied to unify layouts across spreads. Imagery was carefully selected or adjusted in Photoshop to reinforce tone and improve clarity.