Art direction
Website design
An online jazz magazine website publishing daily articles and monthly long reads.
The brief
To design an online publication
The publication aimed to feature daily news, related articles, and a special monthly longform article. The purpose of this project was to explore layouts, typography, and focus on art direction.
Disclaimer
The images and elements used in this project are not owned by me and are used solely for conceptual and educational purposes. Full credit goes to the original creators. Thank you!
the process
Art direction
The cliché of jazz is smoky backroom salons in the early 1900s, saxophones, and cigars. While we can’t ignore the rich history, revolution, and inspiration of old jazz, it’s just as important to recognize how it’s evolved and where it’s headed now.
These days, genres include non-traditional and synthetic sounds, but at its core, it’s still jazz. It was key to capture the vibe of modern jazz and reach the right audience, while still keeping it, well, jazzy.
Allow for images to take centerstage
Curves with edges
Flat, modern, functional
Display
Display font- Abril Fatface | Regular | 220px
Heading 1
Heading 1- Abril Fatface | Regular | 46px
Heading 2
Heading 2- Abril Fatface | Regular | 36px
Heading 3
Heading 3- Figtree | Bold | 32px
Body text
Body- Figtree | Regular | 16px
CAPTIONS
Captions- Figtree | Bold | 12px
Font study
The thing with articles is they are designed to be read, on a screen. Visibility, clarity and aesthetics are all primary factors
UI
Home screen, designed to showcase articles, events and a short menu
UI
Short form (daily article)
Art direction
Bebop Jazz-Long form article
The evolution of bebop, a jazz genre, is fascinating. It’s tied to the suppression of African American culture and the theft of credit. Without diving into the full history, it’s safe to say that bebop was created to be so skillfully complex that it couldn’t be copied or stolen without years of practice.
The sounds of bebop are bold, intricate, and make a statement. Unlike the rest of the UI, this specific longform was designed to capture the rebellious spirit of the 1920s New York, the underground scenes, and the overall vibe.
Art direction-
Paula Scher graphics meets William Claxton photography
Complex, layered, collage
Cliched jazz visual elements
Bebop
Complicated
Fast
Swing
Skillful
Boastful
Modern
Scatting
Respectful rebellion
