Alleyn’s School: Scrib
The client
Alleyn’s School is a co-educational independent day school for pupils aged 4–18, based in Dulwich and part of the Dulwich Foundation. Known for its academic excellence and strong creative culture, the school places equal value on intellectual, artistic and sporting achievement.
Alleyn’s approached The Graphic Design House to create Scrib, an annual alumni publication designed to celebrate the life of the school while expressing the individuality, confidence and creativity of its students.
The brief
The brief was to create an annual publication that went far beyond the conventions of a traditional school review. Scrib needed to feel bold, distinctive and progressive, more akin to an art or cultural magazine than a prospectus.
Each edition had to feel special and collectible, while remaining unmistakably Alleyn’s. The publication needed to appeal to a broad audience including students, alumni, current parents and prospective families, while clearly reflecting the school’s ethos and ambitions.
Our approach
We approached Scrib as a concept-led publication, treating each annual edition as a creative project in its own right while building a recognisable and evolving series over time.
A publication with personality
From the outset, Scrib was designed to lean into Alleyn’s artistic and expressive culture. Rather than relying on expected school publication tropes, the design embraces a bold, contemporary edge. Each edition is developed as a standalone piece with its own visual language, while remaining clearly part of an ongoing series.
Concept-led design
Each year begins with the development of tailored concepts, presenting Alleyn’s with a range of potential directions that explore cover treatments, visual themes and internal layouts. This approach allows Scrib to evolve creatively with every edition, while still reflecting the school’s values and ambitions for that year.
Bold, ever-evolving covers
The cover is a defining feature of Scrib, with every edition exploring a new physical and visual approach. Over the years this has included foils, die-cuts, neon and fluorescent inks, blind embossing, bespoke typography and multiple cover variations. These considered print finishes elevate Scrib into a premium object, something to keep, revisit and display.
Evolving with the Alleyn's brand
Following Alleyn’s rebrand in 2023, Scrib was reimagined to align with the new visual identity built around strong angles and the chevron motif. The chevron now takes centre stage on the cover as a die-cut window, revealing vibrant pattern work beneath. Each edition uses a different brand colour, creating strong contrast and reinforcing both continuity and progression.
Internally, typography, colour and grid systems were updated to sit confidently within the new brand guidelines, while still allowing for expressive layouts. Clear sections guide readers through academic highlights, house pages, sport and creative work, balancing structure with moments of visual energy.
“We really appreciate the flexibility and accommodating nature, especially when it came to last-minute changes and moving deadlines remaining incredibly responsive and ensuring that every adjustment was implemented without compromising on quality.”
Rebekah Ramsammy-Amoroso
Marketing Officer (Publications & Editorial)
Alleyn’s School
Results
Scrib has become a flagship publication for Alleyn’s School, a distinctive annual record that reflects the school’s confidence, creativity and ambition. By combining bold editorial design, innovative print finishes and a concept-led approach, it continues to stand apart from traditional school publications.
Each edition marks a new chapter while remaining true to Scrib’s core purpose: celebrating the energy, individuality and achievements of the Alleyn’s community.
Our work in action
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Alleyn’s School
See how we support Alleyn’s School with prospectus design, editorial magazines and admissions publications that bring its brand to life.
Create a publication with its
own voice
If your organisation wants a publication that goes beyond convention and genuinely reflects its culture, we can help. From concept-led editorial design to distinctive print finishes and evolving visual systems, we create publications that feel confident, collectible and unmistakably yours.
Let’s make something your audience will want to keep.