Alleyn’s On School Magazine
Client Overview
Founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a theatre-owning actor and contemporary of Shakespeare and Marlowe, Alleyn’s School is a vibrant, co-educational, independent day school. Their mission aligns closely with ours—promoting curiosity, wonder, creativity, and a love of learning, all within a spirit of possibility.
The Opportunity
Alleyn’s School sought to create a new bi-annual magazine that would engage both alumni and students. The magazine, described as a “digest of ideas, opinion, and original thought,” was intended to showcase writing from teachers on topics significant to their work or personal interests. The challenge was to develop a design that captured the essence of an academic journal while remaining accessible and appealing like a traditional magazine. Inspiration was drawn from renowned publications such as The New Yorker, Guardian G2, The New Scientist, and Monocle Magazine. As the project evolved, the brief expanded to require a template that artfully blended these two styles.
“We’ve received it! And it looks fabulous, thank you very much. You’ve done a brilliant job on it Andy, well done.”
Melanie Huntley
Head of Marketing & Communications
Alleyn’s School
Our Approach
Creating a Distinctive Style: We developed two initial design concepts: one mimicking a clean academic journal and another inspired by classic magazine aesthetics. As the brief evolved, we combined the best elements of both styles, creating a unique design that balanced elegance with accessibility.
Brand Consistency: To maintain brand integrity, we used Alleyn’s School’s sans serif font for the masthead, complemented by a classic serif font for headlines, drop capitals and quotes. This combination provided a sophisticated yet approachable look, enhancing readability and creating a visually appealing contrast.
Design and Layout: We introduced large margins and a limited page layout to ensure a clean, uncluttered design that emphasised the authors’ writing and the accompanying imagery. This minimalist approach allowed the content to take centre stage, offering readers a pleasant and engaging experience.
Photography Style: To keep the visual tone consistent and intriguing, we deliberately avoided obvious choices when it came to imagery. Instead, we selected more abstract images that added depth and interest to the articles, drawing readers into the thought-provoking content.
The Results
The final product was a striking and sophisticated magazine that resonated well with both alumni and students. The Spring/Summer issue, themed “AI and the New Now,” was delivered successfully, setting a high standard for future editions. The combination of clean design, thoughtful typography, and intriguing imagery created a publication that is both aesthetically pleasing and intellectually stimulating. This design approach not only met the brief but also strengthened the connection between the school and its community, making the magazine a valued resource.
Next Steps
Building on the success of this issue, we are excited to continue our collaboration with Alleyn’s School for future editions and continue to engage the school’s community with fresh themes and ideas. Our goal is to evolve the magazine into a highly anticipated publication that fosters curiosity and keeps both alumni and students eagerly awaiting the next issue.
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