Designing The First Unconventional Magazine About Tech
Digital Garden is a new publication about emerging technology, the Internet, social media, and online trends. Digital Garden aims to enlighten the readers about recent tech news while explicitly approaching the content to attract younger readers. The task is to design the publication’s first issue, setting the tone for all the following releases.
Client
Digital Garden
Role
Graphic Designer
Editorial Designer
Deliverables
Brand Identity
Print-ready Magazine Design
Magazine Spreads
Problem
Commonly, tech magazines are perceived as dull. The challenge is to brand Digital Garden into an artsy and creative publication that merges technology with editorial flair.
Solution
Digital Garden will employ a distinctive design methodology characterized by unconventional font combinations, editorial photography, and innovative compositions. This tactic is targeted not only at technology enthusiasts, but also those who value editorial design, art, and generally, a younger demographic.
Magazine Covers
Combining Languages of Two Most Tech-Savvy Nations
To make the publication feel more unique I had the idea of combining the languages of the two most powerful tech nations – the United States of America and China. This idea came to me while I was planning page layouts in InDesign. Certain parts of each story were translated into Mandarin and placed to complement the main paragraphs in English.
Story 1: Generative AI in Art
The first story tells how the rise of Generative AI has revolutionized the art world, with applications like Stable Diffusion, DALL-E, and MidJourney at the forefront. These tools have sparked both excitement and controversy, blurring the lines between human and machine creativity. A striking example of this shift occurred when a man won an art exhibition with AI-generated artwork, igniting debates about authorship and artistic merit.
Story 2: Digital Dating
Story 2 explores the impact of modern dating culture and the algorithms powering popular dating apps. It presents eye-opening statistics from one of the most widely used platforms, offering a look at the realities of digital matchmaking. The narrative is visually complemented by Hajime Sorayama's provocative illustrations, which add a layer of artistry to the exploration of modern romance and technology.
Story 3: Deepfakes
The third story delves into the concept of deepfakes and examines their potential dangers in modern society. It explores the implications of this rapidly advancing technology, highlighting how fake media can be used to manipulate reality and potentially harm individuals or spread misinformation on a large scale.
Story 4: Cities and Housing of the Future
The final mini-story envisions potential cities and living spaces of the future. It showcases captivating concept art from renowned artists and memorable cinematic depictions, offering a glimpse into imaginative urban landscapes and futuristic dwellings that could shape our tomorrow.
Flatplan