Editorial

Lafayette Magazine Rebrand

Lafayette College is a small private liberal arts college in the U.S. Founded in 1826, they are proudly independent and academically competitive, offering bachelor degrees in dozens of arts and sciences fields including five in engineering. 

When they approached us, both internal sentiment and feedback from the college community was that Lafayette is among their peers in every measurement that matters—they just weren’t showing it effectively. We set-out to completely re-envision their flagship communication vehicle—the quarterly alumni magazine, its digital counterpart and the supporting newsletter and social media channels. 

The goal was to position the college as an innovative, nationwide leader by showing the impact of its alumni, faculty, and students. We worked with the team to establish a strong editorial mandate and strategy, with more visual content and variety in story formats and a sprinkling of small details, entry points and elements of surprise throughout. 

The new magazine and supporting website are relevant, innovative and confident, telling authentic and meaningful stories while bringing in an energetic and dynamic visual approach. It evokes pride in Lafayette and offers alumni a backstage pass not found elsewhere, all aligned with digital assets that amplify and extend the depth and creativity of the printed stories.

Toronto Met University Mag 2024

The winter 2024 issue of Toronto Metropolitan University Magazine includes articles on AI in the workplace, mindfulness for caregivers, a TMU prof and alum’s illustrious career in the fashion industry, the University’s new mascot, and much more.

Our cover story explores ways we can communicate about science in the age of misinformation, and how to discern fact from fiction.

client: Toronto Metropolitan University
Editor-in-chief: colleen mellor
contributors: hannah browne, leeandra cianci, wade hudson, alexa mazzarello, ebti nabag, dadu shin

University of Toronto, Spring & Autumn 2023

We went into a lab, a food bank, and even in the water to capture our subjects for the Spring 2023 issue of University of Toronto Magazine. Photographer Luis Mora helped us bring the vision of sea and sky travel to our cover story, echoing a Rohingya student’s courageous journey to freedom. Illustrator George Wylesol tapped into our retro video game nostalgia with his signature style. Photographer Christopher Katsarov Luna documented what goes on behind the scenes of the food bank system.

In the Autumn 2023 issue, we explore the impact of electric vehicles, working with photo-illustrator TYCO to create impactful and sobering imagery of what happens when we take too much from our earth, present new technology being integrated into the theatre space with help from photographer Kate Dockeray and her gels and illustrate the fragmented feeling of addiction and navigating the process of recovery with Gracia Lam.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: SCOTT ANDERSON
CAMPUS EDITORS: PATRICIA LONERGAN and DON CAMPBELL

contributors: spring OJIMA ABALAKA, KRISTINA DITTMAR, Chloë Ellingson, POLINA TEIF, CHRISTOPHER KATSAROV LUNA, maria medem, LUIS MORA, CHRIS PHILPOT, David Sparshott, dylan toombs, GEORGE WYLESOL autumn AMBER BRACKEN, Kate Dockeray, NICK IWANYSHYN, ALEX JACOBS-BLUM, GRACIA LAM, KAILEE MANDEL, David Sparshott, POLINA TEIF, MAY TRUONG, tyco, JIAQI WANG

Canadian Business, Winter & Spring 2023

CB’s winter issue includes stories about virtual health care, the evolution of psychedelic drugs, the funeral industry, recyclable jeans, fitness gear and lots more. 

The spring issue includes stories about the rise of ransomware crimes, building Canada’s hyperloop train, enticing employees back to the office, the evolution of board games and much more.   

Client: St Joseph’s Communications
Editor-in-Chief: Charlotte Herrold

Contributors: WINTER Nathan Cyprys, Nicole Billark, Kate Dockeray, Vanessa Hill, Kate Ince, Kyle Jeffers, David Sparshott, Aysha Tengiz, Jenna Marie Wakani, George Wylesol, Jaenam Yoo SPRING Nicole Billark, Colin Boyd Shafer, Daniele Castellano, Julia Dufossé, Kathleen Fu, Max Guther, Kate Ince, Richmond Lam, Melanie Lambrick, Janick Laurent, Lucy Lu, Carlos Osorio, Andy Rementer, David Sparshott, May Truong

Toronto Met University Magazine, Summer 2022

The magazine formerly known as Ryerson has a new name to match the university's and its inaugural cover feature delves into the thoughts, reasoning and process behind the renaming. We worked with illustrator Calvin Sprague to create a cover and opener that capture the diversity, vibrancy and innovative spirit of the school – now called Toronto Metropolitan University.

EDITOR: COLLEEN MELLOR
CONTRIBUTORS:
Chloë Ellingson, Brent Gooden, Lindsay Lauckner, Lucy Lu, Jesse Milns, Calvin Sprague, Ard Su, Monique Wray

Ryerson University Magazine, Spring 2022

The Winter 2022 issue of Ryerson University Magazine was published as the university underwent the process of renaming itself. The cover feature focused on the work being done to address the legacy of Egerton Ryerson and how the Standing Strong Task Force's recommendations can lead the way to building a more inclusive future.

EDITOR: COLLEEN MELLOR
CONTRIBUTORS:
Alex Jacobs-Blum, ALLYSA K. FAORO, HANNAH KIVIRANTA, Lucy Lu, Enzo Rodriguez, LeeAndrea Cianci, Stephan Schmitz

Canadian Business, Summer & Fall 2022

CB’s Summer issue includes a look at the wildly lucrative metaverse property market, a piece about how natural language processing is being used to make computers better communicators, plus we meet 5 Canadians who ditched their desk jobs to pursue their foodie fantasies.

The Fall 2022 issue includes the “How I Made It” feature — a celebration of Canadian entrepreneurs who are making big moves, a riveting story involving Hydro-Québec, a peek inside Universal Music’s new campus and most importantly, CANDY!

Client: St Joseph’s Communications
Editor-in-Chief: Charlotte Herrold

Contributors: Summer Boldtron, Anna Rupprecht, David Sparshott, Allison Seto, Kate Ince, Nicole Billark, Ken Woroner, Nick Iwanyshyn, John Cairns, Brendan George Ko, Chris Donovan, Oumayma Ben Tanfous, Kelsey McMillan, Carolina Andrade, Jackie Dives, May Truong, Sam Island Fall Kimberly Elliott, David Sparshott, Shira Inbar, Philip Cheung, Kate Ince, Nicole Billark, Allison Seto, Kayla Rocca, Anthony Gebrehiwot, Renaud Philippe, Raúl Soria, Jenna Marie Wakani, Richmond Lam

University of Toronto, Spring and Fall 2022

The spring issue of the University of Toronto Magazine features stories about the incredible things that become possible when we ask big inspiring questions like: “What If?” So many talented contributors in this issue!

The Autumn 2022 issue of University of Toronto Magazine features stories about Ilya Sutskerver and the new AI system he’s building that can use language to create art, a new medical school working to fix the racial gap in health care, a look at the staged crime scenes where forensic students learn and lots more.

(ALL ISSUES) EDITOR-IN-CHIEFSCOTT ANDERSON; CAMPUS EDITORS, PATRICIA LONERGAN and DON CAMPBELL contributors: Alex Jacobs Blum, Yasmin Butcher, Don Campbell, Nathan Cyprys, Brent Gooden, Johnny Guatto, Choi Haeryung, Vanessa Hill, Wade Hudson, Jennifer Roberts, DELLA ROLLINS, Katherine Ross, Derek Shapton, David Sparshott, Sabrina Sisco, Michelle Yee

Canadian Business, Winter & Spring 2022

CB’s Winter 2022 issue features a piece about space tourism, a look at the 50 Canadian companies that made CB's New Innovators list, a profile of Moderna co-founder Derrick Rossi and one of our favourite subjects: PETS!

The Spring 2022 issue includes a piece about Canada’s cannabis crash, CB’s guide to the EV revolution, and a story about cellular agriculture and how lab-grown protein may be the solution to humanity’s hunger problem. Plus a little something for the cleaning-obsessed.

Illustration of workout equipment

Client: St Joseph’s Communications
Editor-in-Chief: Charlotte Herrold

Contributors: Winter Joslyn Panasiuk, Kate Dehler, Courtney Wotherspoon, May Truong, Annie Sakkab, Patricia Doria, Kate Ince, Nicole Billark, Alyssa Katherine Faoro, Chloë Ellingson, Katherine Ross, Mikaela MacKenzie, Margeaux Walter, Joanna Ławniczak, Sasha Pedro, Cristina Spanó, Lucy Lu Spring Andrew B. Myers, Marine Buffard, David Sparshott, May Truong, Grant Harder, Kelsey Dake, Kate Ince, Nicole Billark, Darren Calabrese, Erin Leydon, Allie Sullberg, Kyle Jeffers, Jason Franson, Rose Wong, Duane Cole

University of Toronto Magazine, 2021

The Spring 2021 issue of the University of Toronto Magazine covers big topics like accessibility, disinformation and sustainability. We wanted to convey the importance of these issues while offering some optimism and much-needed hope. Saty + Pratha captured the authenticity and poise of two students with disabilities who shared their experiences for the cover feature while Grace J. Kim’s lovely work perfectly complements a piece about overcoming adversity. The issue also includes powerful illustrations by Nate Kitch, a beautiful portrait by Wade Hudson and lots more.

The Autumn 2021 issue is filled with stories of innovation and cutting edge research including the cover feature, which delves into the miracle of insulin on the 100th anniversary of its discovery, illustrated by Andrea Ucini. Photographer Jorian Charlton photographed the students in places around the city where they go when they want a feeling of home. And Cody Punter’s images featuring people in Nunavut hunting, fishing and living off the land, perfectly complimented the story about solutions to hunger in Canada’s north.

The issue won Gold for Best Cover and Silver for Best Issue at the 45th National Magazine Awards.

(ALL ISSUES) EDITOR-IN-CHIEFSCOTT ANDERSON; CAMPUS EDITORs, PATRICIA LONERGAN and DON CAMPBELL. contributors: CoDY PUNTER, KATE DOCKERAY, NICK IWANYSHIN, JORIAN CHARLTON, Enzo Rodriguez, SAM PIERRE, David Sparshott, andrea ucini, franziska Barczyk, REmiE GEOFFROI, saty and pratha, arthur mola, sam island, grace j. kim, wade hudson, nate kitch, hanna barczyk, colin hayes, Aaron Vincent Elkaim, pillar torcal, Jacqueline Ashton

Ryerson University Magazine, 2021

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The Winter 2021 issue of Ryerson University Magazine focuses on “change makers” who are taking action to address inequality. It includes a stunning series of portraits by photographer Janick Laurent, who captured the fun and dynamic personalities of the subjects, many of them students from the inaugural class of Ryerson’s new law school.

This year also required a lot of adapting to change with the COVID-19 pandemic. We had Image Arts ’11 graduate Kiana Hayeri document what life has been like on campus for students who have quickly adjusted to mostly virtual learning.

The Summer 2021 issue of Ryerson University Magazine focuses on things we learned during the pandemic - from the urgency of addressing socio-economic inequities, to how businesses can pivot, to how often to wash our hands. We wanted to give serious issues the attention they deserve while bringing in some levity - after all, isn’t a little fun what’s gotten us through this tough time? Enter Ty Dale, whose bright, pleasing illustrations on the cover and throughout the 14-page feature are the silver-lining sparkle we needed.

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We bring in a diverse group of photographers and illustrators for each issue – from internationally acclaimed artists to up-and-coming Ryerson grads. Here are some of the amazing people we've worked with to bring Ryerson's stories to life:

(ALL ISSUES) EDITOR, COLLEEN MELLOR. COVER STORY PHOTOGRAPHY, JANNICK LAURENT. ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS, ALIA YOUSSEF, CARLOS OSARIO, KIANA HAYERI, NADRA BADR, Wynne Neilly, Vanessa Tignanelli, Jeff Bierk, Chris Donovan, Reynard Li, Aidan Tooth, ILLUSTRATION, MIMI MOFFIE, YAZMIN BUTCHER, TY Dale

Xtra Magazine

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Xtra is an online magazine and community platform covering LGBTQ2S culture, politics and health that launched in 1984 as a local, free lesbian and gay newspaper in Toronto. Inspired by its activist past and back issues of its printed history, we developed a look that was loud & proud and reflective of the communities it represents.

The website and brand redesign is fresh and modern with lots of playful elements. At the core of Xtra’s new look is the asterisk — a symbol normally used to indicate an omission or a footnote. By reclaiming the power of the asterisk, Xtra says, “We will not be left out or pushed to the bottom of the page — our stories matter.”

As part of the editorial strategy moving forward, we developed an extensive visual playbook that provides an overview of how to use the new look. The book illustrates different story types with direction for artwork that pairs with content to strike the right tone, from loud and playful at times to serious and reserved.

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Studio Wyse took us down dozens of wonderful rabbit holes in their research—including a fascinating discussion about whether fonts have genders—and dug deeply into our activist, DIY past for design inspiration. They made mood boards of the covers of back issues of The Body Politic and Xtra, pictures of our old hot pink newspaper boxes, 1980s AIDS activism posters and 1990s queer zines. They introduced us to the work of some fabulous LGBTQ2S+ photographers and illustrators, with an emphasis on the work of racialized artists, to support our vision of showcasing more images of members of our communities throughout our site. The resulting look is modern, elegant and easy to navigate, but with lots of playful elements and surprises.

rachel giese, editorial director, xtra magazine

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Motion graphic animation by Julian Brown, On the Chase

University of Toronto Magazine, Winter 2020

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The University of Toronto Magazine recently expanded its coverage to include the Scarborough and Mississauga campuses. To mark the occasion, we developed a fresh new logo and cover design for the Winter 2020 issue and introduced a new opening section featuring three big, beautiful double-page spreads capturing “A Moment” from each campus.

The issue is jam-packed with incredible work, including the cover and cover feature illustrations about the future of medicine by Gastón Mendieta and absolutely stunning portraits for a piece about efforts against anti-Black racism by Jorian Charlton.

Other great contributors to this issue include Christopher Katsarov Luna, Kevin Van Paassen, Galit Rodan, Nick Iwanyshyn, Jamie Cullen, Christopher Philpot, Owen Gent and David Sparshott.

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(ALL ISSUES) EDITOR-IN-CHIEFSCOTT ANDERSON. (THIS ISSUE) CAMPUS EDITOR, PATRICIA LONERGAN. CAMPUS EDITOR, DON CAMPBELL. PHOTO EDITOR, DELLA ROLLINS. PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS, JoRIAN CHARLTON, CHRISTOPHER KARSAROVLUNA, KEVIN VAN PAASSEN, GALIT RODAN and NICK iwanyshyn. ILLUSTRATion, GASTÓN MENDIETA, JAMIE CULLEN, CHRISTOPHER PHILPOT, OWEN GENT, and DAVID SPARSHOTT.