Spark, An Award-Winning Creative Publication for the College of Fine Arts at Boston University
I was hired for this project based on my previous work with the College of Fine Arts at Boston University, where I had established a reputation for creative excellence.
In addition to the creative direction and design, I worked closely with several members of the College of Fine Arts marketing department to implement writing, photos, and other content for the publication, ensuring that all elements aligned with the overall vision. I also handled the pre-press production and worked directly with the printer for the entire production run of the publication.
About Spark
Spark was a publication from the College of Fine Arts at Boston University, featuring season event highlights and unique storytelling through compelling editorials in a distinctive broadsheet format. This publication ran for three years before transitioning into a full magazine format.
As Creative Director for Spark, I developed the design and creative direction for the publication, including a color system where two colors from the cover image were chosen to define the primsary colors for the Fall issue. The complementary colors then became the primary colors for the Spring issue.
This system was consistently applied across logo design, overlays, gradients, and type treatments, ensuring a cohesive and engaging visual experience.
A third issue was eventually introduced for each volume.
Disrupting the original two-issue color system, the new third-issues adopt a "wildcard" theme.
For the new third-issue concept, I disrupted the original two-issue color system by introducing a "wildcard" theme, which allowed for more creative freedom and dynamic design.
For the first third-issue (published Spring 2017), I drew inspiration from the contrasting tartness and sweetness of a grapefruit, reflecting the early Spring season.
For the final third-issue, I took cues from the cool, sandy vibes of New England beaches in Spring, evoking a fresh, coastal aesthetic.
In addition to the creative direction and design, I handled the pre-production for the entire production run of the publication, ensuring all elements were flawlessly executed from concept to print.
Below are selected spreads from Spark.
