OVERVIEW:
Project Type:
Magazine Design, Editorial Layout, Typography
Tools:
Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator
Project Type:
Magazine Design, Editorial Layout, Typography
Tools:
Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator
Background: The original magazine I designed in my InDesign class was titled Bay Area Trail, a publication that highlighted a different local hike each month. For my feature issue, I focused on one of my favorite trails in the foothills of Mount Tamalpais, using all original photography captured during my own hikes. While designing, I also wanted to explore the concept of forest bathing—the mindful practice of connecting with nature—but it didn't quite fit within the magazine's layout, so I included it as an ad on the back cover.
When revisiting this project for expansion, I decided to merge those two ideas—trails and forest bathing—into a new concept: Trail and Thrive. This reimagined magazine is designed for outdoor enthusiasts of all levels, from beginners to seasoned hikers, who seek both adventure and restorative connection with nature. The tone encourages readers to slow down, be present, and rediscover the outdoors with intention. Its subhead, "Step outside, breathe in, breathe again," captures the essence of that connection between movement, mindfulness, and the natural world.
When revisiting this project for expansion, I decided to merge those two ideas—trails and forest bathing—into a new concept: Trail and Thrive. This reimagined magazine is designed for outdoor enthusiasts of all levels, from beginners to seasoned hikers, who seek both adventure and restorative connection with nature. The tone encourages readers to slow down, be present, and rediscover the outdoors with intention. Its subhead, "Step outside, breathe in, breathe again," captures the essence of that connection between movement, mindfulness, and the natural world.
Bay Area Trails Magazine Front and Back Cover
DESIGN PROBLEM:
The main challenge was developing a masthead and overall visual identity that expressed both the energy of the trail and the serenity of forest immersion. I explored multiple visual directions—trail markers, organic shapes, and natural motifs—before arriving at the leaf symbol, which perfectly represents both the environment itself and the personal growth that comes from connecting deeply with it.
The main challenge was developing a masthead and overall visual identity that expressed both the energy of the trail and the serenity of forest immersion. I explored multiple visual directions—trail markers, organic shapes, and natural motifs—before arriving at the leaf symbol, which perfectly represents both the environment itself and the personal growth that comes from connecting deeply with it.
Typeface Logo iterations
Target Audience: Trail and Thrive is designed for hiking enthusiasts, outdoor lovers, and health-minded adults interested in personal well-being. The magazine bridges the active, physical experience of hiking—a familiar Western pursuit—with the meditative, nature-immersive concept of forest bathing rooted in Eastern traditions. Its goal is to inspire readers to move with mindfulness and presence, showing that by engaging with nature fully, they can not only explore but truly thrive.
DESIGN PROCESS:
Masthead Development: The masthead needed to express both energy and serenity. I explored multiple directions including trail markers, organic shapes, and natural motifs before arriving at the leaf symbol. The leaf perfectly represents the environment itself and symbolizes personal growth—capturing the essence of both the physical trail and the meditative forest bathing practice. I illustrated the leaf to sit beside the words "Trail and Thrive," creating a cohesive lockup that functions across all applications.
Seasonal Identity System: To reflect the year-round nature of outdoor exploration, I developed a seasonal color system. Each season has its own cover with a corresponding color palette: green for spring (renewal and growth), vibrant colors for summer, warm tones for autumn, and cool blues for winter. The illustrated leaf symbol changes color with each season, creating visual variety while maintaining brand consistency across all four covers.
Typography: I selected GreyCliff CF from the original Bay Area Trail magazine for its organic feel. The typeface balances readability with natural character, making it approachable yet sophisticated—welcoming both experienced hikers and newcomers to mindful outdoor practice. Its organic quality complements the hand-illustrated leaf symbol and reinforces the magazine's connection to nature.
Masthead Development: The masthead needed to express both energy and serenity. I explored multiple directions including trail markers, organic shapes, and natural motifs before arriving at the leaf symbol. The leaf perfectly represents the environment itself and symbolizes personal growth—capturing the essence of both the physical trail and the meditative forest bathing practice. I illustrated the leaf to sit beside the words "Trail and Thrive," creating a cohesive lockup that functions across all applications.
Seasonal Identity System: To reflect the year-round nature of outdoor exploration, I developed a seasonal color system. Each season has its own cover with a corresponding color palette: green for spring (renewal and growth), vibrant colors for summer, warm tones for autumn, and cool blues for winter. The illustrated leaf symbol changes color with each season, creating visual variety while maintaining brand consistency across all four covers.
Typography: I selected GreyCliff CF from the original Bay Area Trail magazine for its organic feel. The typeface balances readability with natural character, making it approachable yet sophisticated—welcoming both experienced hikers and newcomers to mindful outdoor practice. Its organic quality complements the hand-illustrated leaf symbol and reinforces the magazine's connection to nature.
Photography Integration: Using my original photography from Mount Tamalpais hikes grounded the magazine in authentic experience. The images capture both the grandeur of the trails and intimate moments of connection with nature—reinforcing the magazine's dual focus on adventure and mindfulness.
Layout System: I developed a flexible grid system in InDesign that accommodates both action-oriented trail content and contemplative forest bathing features. The layouts balance white space with immersive photography, creating breathing room that mirrors the magazine's invitation to slow down and be present. The system includes cover designs, table of contents, and three interior spreads that demonstrate the magazine's editorial range.
Layout System: I developed a flexible grid system in InDesign that accommodates both action-oriented trail content and contemplative forest bathing features. The layouts balance white space with immersive photography, creating breathing room that mirrors the magazine's invitation to slow down and be present. The system includes cover designs, table of contents, and three interior spreads that demonstrate the magazine's editorial range.
Color Palette: The color system represents the four seasons, ensuring the magazine feels relevant and timely throughout the year: Spring: Green (renewal, growth, ). Summer: Vibrant warm tones (energy, vitality). Autumn: Red/warm tones (transformation, harvest). Winter: Blue (reflection, stillness, clarity). body text: Green-black (grounding, earth). This seasonal approach creates visual variety across issues while maintaining brand recognition through the consistent masthead and leaf symbol
DESIGN SOLUTION:
The solution creates a cohesive magazine identity that honors both the physical and meditative aspects of outdoor experience while celebrating the changing seasons. The illustrated leaf symbol serves as the visual anchor—immediately recognizable and rich with meaning, representing nature, growth, and the renewal that comes from mindful connection with the outdoors. By changing color with each season, the leaf creates visual variety while maintaining strong brand consistency across all four covers.
The seasonal color system ensures the magazine feels relevant throughout the year. Spring's green represents renewal and new beginnings, summer brings vibrant energy, autumn's red tones reflect transformation, and winter's blue evokes reflection and stillness. The green-black accent grounds the palette, connecting all seasons to the earth itself. This approach allows each issue to have distinct personality while remaining unmistakably part of the Trail and Thrive family.
GreyCliff CF typography, carried over from the original Bay Area Trail magazine, provides continuity while supporting the new concept's organic character. The typeface ensures readability while maintaining natural warmth, and the layout system provides structure without feeling rigid—mirroring the magazine's philosophy of exploration with intention. Photography plays a central role, grounding the content in authentic experience while inspiring readers to venture outdoors themselves.
The subhead "Step outside, breathe in, breathe again" functions as both editorial direction and reader invitation. It encapsulates the magazine's mission: encouraging movement, mindfulness, and the restoration that comes from engaging fully with nature. This simple phrase bridges the active Western hiking tradition with the contemplative Eastern practice of forest bathing, making both accessible to the magazine's diverse audience across all seasons.
Applications: The magazine design extends across seasonal issues and multiple formats.
The solution creates a cohesive magazine identity that honors both the physical and meditative aspects of outdoor experience while celebrating the changing seasons. The illustrated leaf symbol serves as the visual anchor—immediately recognizable and rich with meaning, representing nature, growth, and the renewal that comes from mindful connection with the outdoors. By changing color with each season, the leaf creates visual variety while maintaining strong brand consistency across all four covers.
The seasonal color system ensures the magazine feels relevant throughout the year. Spring's green represents renewal and new beginnings, summer brings vibrant energy, autumn's red tones reflect transformation, and winter's blue evokes reflection and stillness. The green-black accent grounds the palette, connecting all seasons to the earth itself. This approach allows each issue to have distinct personality while remaining unmistakably part of the Trail and Thrive family.
GreyCliff CF typography, carried over from the original Bay Area Trail magazine, provides continuity while supporting the new concept's organic character. The typeface ensures readability while maintaining natural warmth, and the layout system provides structure without feeling rigid—mirroring the magazine's philosophy of exploration with intention. Photography plays a central role, grounding the content in authentic experience while inspiring readers to venture outdoors themselves.
The subhead "Step outside, breathe in, breathe again" functions as both editorial direction and reader invitation. It encapsulates the magazine's mission: encouraging movement, mindfulness, and the restoration that comes from engaging fully with nature. This simple phrase bridges the active Western hiking tradition with the contemplative Eastern practice of forest bathing, making both accessible to the magazine's diverse audience across all seasons.
Applications: The magazine design extends across seasonal issues and multiple formats.
Impact & Learning: This project strengthened my editorial design skills and deepened my understanding of how visual identity can communicate complex concepts. By merging the active experience of hiking with the meditative practice of forest bathing, I learned to design systems that honor multiple perspectives and invite diverse audiences into a shared experience.
The process of developing the masthead taught me the importance of symbolic resonance—the leaf symbol works because it carries meaning that readers immediately understand while remaining open to personal interpretation. The seasonal color system taught me how to balance consistency with variety—the leaf symbol and typography remain constant while colors shift with the seasons, creating visual interest without losing brand recognition.
This project also reinforced the value of authentic content: using my own photography grounded the design in real experience, making the magazine's invitation to explore and thrive feel genuine and achievable. Technically, I developed stronger InDesign skills in grid systems, typography hierarchy, and integrating photography with editorial content. Most critically, I learned how thoughtful design can bridge different cultural traditions—in this case, Western hiking culture and Eastern mindfulness practices—creating something new that honors both.
The process of developing the masthead taught me the importance of symbolic resonance—the leaf symbol works because it carries meaning that readers immediately understand while remaining open to personal interpretation. The seasonal color system taught me how to balance consistency with variety—the leaf symbol and typography remain constant while colors shift with the seasons, creating visual interest without losing brand recognition.
This project also reinforced the value of authentic content: using my own photography grounded the design in real experience, making the magazine's invitation to explore and thrive feel genuine and achievable. Technically, I developed stronger InDesign skills in grid systems, typography hierarchy, and integrating photography with editorial content. Most critically, I learned how thoughtful design can bridge different cultural traditions—in this case, Western hiking culture and Eastern mindfulness practices—creating something new that honors both.
