NICHE MagazineFor a final project at Cal Poly, NICHE was conceptualized and designed as an interior design magazine tailored to young homeowners seeking to enhance their aesthetic on a budget. The publication reflects a distinct design identity and resonates with a target audience of budget conscious, design driven individuals. Through thoughtful typography, layout, and imagery, the magazine blends modern style with practical design advice.
The layout consisted of a cover, masthead & contents page, editorial, two page spread and a back cover.
Design ProcessThese represent the first two iterations of the magazine cover. The goal was to maintain a clean aesthetic while incorporating playful elements to capture the reader’s attention. Ultimately, the more youthful design was selected to better align with and appeal to the target audience.
Cover
Masthead & Contents page
The masthead and contents page were designed to work cohesively while remaining visually distinct, ensuring they would not be perceived as a single two-page spread.
Editorial
These two pages explore the use of shape and color, with topics selected specifically to support this visual experimentation. The designs were later refined and polished for the final product.
Two Page Spread
This spread allowed design elements to extend across both pages. The primary challenge was selecting the appropriate imagery, ensuring it effectively supported and aligned with the article’s subject matter.
Back Cover
Selecting a back cover advertisement that complemented the magazine while still providing contrast from the front cover was a key challenge. A paint advertisement was ultimately chosen, with the imagery later adjusted to feature a more muted color palette for better visual balance.
