Writing, Graphic Design
September 2020 - November 2020
Society for News Design Special Sections: Honorable Mention
North Carolina is a state that has a little bit of everything—mountains in the west, seaside in the east, and a diverse, growing population throughout. Named for North Carolina’s state flower, The Dogwood magazine offers a curated look at people, places, and opportunities that make the Tar Heel State special.
The Dogwood used an illustration style that required assets to be made in Adobe Illustrator and then shaded in Adobe Photoshop.
Every fall, the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media’s Magazine Design class sets out on an ambitious plan: To write, design, and publish two full magazines in three months. After selecting an editorial team and themes for each magazine, students begin pitching stories, reporting, and creating a cohesive, professional publication.
For my article, I recreated Boone's main drag from a picture I took while visiting town.
Articles in the magazine ran alongside real ads for North Carolina businesses.
I served as the editor for all writing that appeared in The Dogwood. Throughout the semester, I worked with other members of the editorial team to ensure that the magazine’s art style and writing worked together to showcase the state’s best offerings. I also worked one-on-one with each of the magazine’s writers to help them develop ideas for their articles, locate sources, and refine their writing.
In addition, I wrote and designed “An Afternoon in Boone,” a city guide to one of the most popular mountain towns in North Carolina. To match the art director’s vision for the magazine, I used an illustration style that involved creating pieces in Adobe Illustrator before adding texture through burning in Adobe Photoshop.
10 students completed the 54-page magazine over a span of three months.
If, like me, you’re not a native North Carolinian, I strongly recommend checking out The Dogwood. The magazine has something for everyone—from details about the state’s best parks to information about the local theater to the history of North Carolina’s famous barbecue. The Dogwood was also awarded an honorable mention in the Society for News Design 2021 Special Sections competition.
