MAGAZINE REDESIGN
BITCH - Feminist Magazine
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The Web Homepage redesign for BITCH Magazine
The Web Homepage redesign for BITCH Magazine; mobile version
The final designs for this redesign: 1) Magazine Cover; 2) Table of Contents; 3) Back Article; 4) Webpage Redesign
PROJECT BRIEF
This was an individual academic project for a magazine publishing course. The goal of this project was to redesign an existing magazine. This includes the cover, the table of content, the front/back article and the homepage of the magazine's webpage.
PROCESS
: Art Direction
Bitch magazine is a feminist magazine that creates responses to pop culture. Their audiences are 25 – 30 years old. I found their existing brand though sartorial, too modest and cutesy for their mandate. So I wanted to give them a slightly more grungier and unapologetic feel; though still walking the line between sartorial and not overly aggressive. I do not envision the tone of the magazine changing since their current tone is appropriate to my redesign.
PROCESS
: Cover Art
The cover is original artwork that I photographed, modeled, edited and sketched. Since it is the anniversary issue, I wanted the image to be more proud and celebratory. I wanted to convey a flexible identity that was strong and confident. The artwork coincides with the issue’s contents by exploring history, identity, culture and community. There is also an article about Wonder Women and thus the posing. The “C” on the chest is for “Cunt” since there was an article about that word. I used an overall gold colouring so that it would seem more celebratory. The artwork also captures many trends in pop culture such as body hair, showcasing nipples, pop art and if gender is dictated by genitals.
PROCESS
: Table of Contents
I tried to keep the layout somewhat standards because Bitch magazine’s original layouts had an emphasis on legibility and simplicity; Taking inspiration from pop art and movies, the staggered layout is a node to “milestones”. The text utilize different font weight and sizes to create interest and differentiation, sort of like when you go to a movie theatre and see the movie listings and posters. The Wonder Women and Super Man photo is a node to the cover.
PROCESS
: Back Article
I found the original artwork to be boring by its monochromatic colouring. I also did not like the “ye olde” on the title because it was too tacky and outdated. With the new images, I edited them to have “douchebag” written behind the subject to make it humorous and sartorial. The colours in the photos also have pink/ maroon, red, blue and yellow to relate to the cover and the TOC, and to link to each other such as between Bachmann and Kutcher through the blue.
ABOUT THE CLIENT
I chose to redesign the magazine Bitch: Feminist Response to Pop Culture; a feminist magazine dedicated to providing and encouraging an engaged, thoughtful feminist response to mainstream media and popular culture.
PROCESS
: Logo
I updated the logo with a new font that has a rougher finish to it, yet still having the big, bold sans serif look to it; making it not too different from the original. So it has a bit more punch to it.
PROCESS
: Website’s Homepage
I updated their menu names by using terms that describes people because I felt that it would be more interesting. It also sounds more action-like which fits the personality of Bitch. I reduced the amount of menu headings by moving them into an extendable longer menu; thus, leaving only the popular tabs visible. I moved the suggested articles directly under the menu so that it would be viewable at the top before the cut-off of the screen. It also allows viewers to quickly get a feel of what Bitch posts are about. Underneath it is the featured article. I moved the “what’s trending bar” to the top to increase its visibility because it felt misplaced and hidden on the original. The footer menu contains all of the menu headings.