University of Toronto Magazine’s Autumn 2025 issue is all about Canada! The cover story and feature package explores unapologetically bold solutions for a better Canada, including how to create more affordable housing, strengthen our health care, and protect the North.

Such complex ideas can be a challenge to art. We developed the concept of ‘Big Country, Big Ideas’ — taking every day objects that represent each of the topics and making them larger-than-life. Just as these topics impact all Canadians, these miniature worlds span the country, from cities, to prairies, to mountains, to the North.

The issue also features teaching in the age of AI, untold stories and achievements of African Canadians, how interracial couples handle unique social stresses, an alum’s impressive cricket achievements, and much more.

The spring 2025 issue of University of Toronto Magazine celebrates the departing President, Meric Gertler, and the legacy he leaves behind after his 12 year term. The feature package includes an overview of his impact on the university, reflections from esteemed collaborators and peers, new landmark campus buildings since he started his presidency, and a farewell conversation with Meric. We spent a morning on campus with photographer Wade Hudson, capturing Meric in the halls he knows so well as he looks back on the impact of his work.

The issue also covers stories like the attention span crisis (and what efforts we can make to curb it), a first year student making a big impact, how the university’s billion dollar Defy Gravity campaign is supporting discoveries, scholarships and cutting-edge facilities, and much more.

The winter digital issue of U of T Magazine centres around how language shapes us, from the age of digital communication to regional Canadian slang.

We photographed author Ian Williams on a busy city street, standing still as people rushed past. The image reflects themes from his book, which explores how digital communication and societal polarization have eroded meaningful conversation. It speaks to this disconnect — a sense of isolation amid constant noise.

We also decorate a professor with emojis to celebrate her one-of-a-kind emoji class, follow a young man with non-speaking autism as he collaborates with neuroscience researchers, and illustrate the various ways words are heard, felt, and communicated.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: SCOTT ANDERSON
CAMPUS EDITORS: Kate Martin and DON CAMPBELL

contributors: WINTER Hannah Browne, Marta Iwanek, Vincent Kilbride, Lucy Lu, Jalani Morgan, Ebti Nabag spring Alanna Chelmick, Wade Hudson, Nick Iwanyshyn, Laura Proctor, Eleanor Shakespeare, Anuj Shrestha, Nautica Simone, David Sparshott Autumn duane cole, oshane howard, sam island, Gracia Lam, melanie lambrick, david sparshott, may truong, Sarah Wright.

U of T’s Spring 2024 issue features a 13-page feature package on AI: how it’s dramatically changing everything from medicine to music and what that means for the future. Illustrators Seba Cestaro and Risto Avramovski helped us bring these abstract concepts to life through vibrant colour.

We took advantage of the magazine’s digital presence to create an animated cover. We wanted to convey how AI has seemingly infiltrated so many aspects of life through a typographic approach. It also gave us the opportunity to experiment with Cavalry, a powerful 2D animation software.

This issue also covers ways Toronto can introduce more sustainable building methods, ableism in our health care system, a professor’s love for comics as a teaching tool, and much more.

The Autumn 2024 issue of U of T Magazine highlights how U of T students and faculty are working with peers and community partners around the globe to address some of the world’s most pressing issues. Bright colours and bold design elements, with illustrations by Kyle Ellingson and portraits by Duane Cole, combine to give this package an uplifting, hopeful feel — reflecting the progress of the work being done.

U of T Magazine Winter 2024 is all digital. The issue’s ‘feel-good’ theme coincided with the start of the new year and a time of resolutions. It includes stories on inspiring students bringing about change, the science behind the Mediterranean diet, a uniquely modern way to quit smoking, a prof’s insights on living a longer and healthier life, and more.

Working in a digital-only space allows us to think differently when approaching our commissions. Illustrator Rose Wong animated our spot illustrations to bring some playful energy to the page.