What's included

• 1. Publication Architecture & Editorial Layout System

  A complete structural foundation for your publication, including: - Grid Systems: Custom modular grid(s) tailored to the project’s tone and content flow. - Typographic Hierarchy: Defined styles for headlines, subheads, body text, captions, callouts, pull quotes, and credits. - Column Structure: Clear page rhythm for long-form reading or visually-led spreads. - Baseline grids and spacing rules to maintain consistency across all pages.

• 2. Fully Designed Page Layouts

  Depending on the scope, this includes: - Feature Stories & Long-Form Articles: Balanced layouts that enhance narrative rhythm. - Departments/Sections: Reusable formats for recurring columns or editorial sections. - Visual Essays / Photo Spreads: Image-led sections designed with cinematic pacing. - Front Matter & Back Matter: Table of contents, masthead, editorial letter, contributors page, index, etc. - Interactive Layouts (for digital): Scroll-based sections, clickable elements, embedded imagery, and screen-responsive compositions. Each page is designed to reinforce the publication’s voice, aesthetic, and narrative intention.

• 3. Image Curation & Art Direction

  Support for visual storytelling, including: - Selection and placement of client-provided images - Image sourcing (if requested) from royalty-free or licensed libraries - Cropping and art direction to enhance pacing and coherence - Color treatment recommendations to unify the visual palette

• 4. Custom Graphic Elements

  Designed to elevate the visual identity of the publication: - Section markers - Icons - Dividers and ornaments - Illustrative accents - Data visualization styles (if needed) These elements help create a cohesive editorial personality.

• 5. Cover Design & Variants

  - Primary Cover Design: Focal artwork or typographic concept aligned with the theme. - Variant Covers: For special editions, collectors’ issues, or digital-first formats. - Back cover and spine design (for printed publications). - Thumbnail versions optimized for digital storefronts and online platforms.

• 6. Color Systems & Printing Specifications

  - Color Palette: Defined CMYK, RGB, and HEX values, plus suggestions for tints, shades, and gradients. - Paper Recommendations: Stock weight, texture, finish, and sustainability options. - Print-ready settings: Bleeds, crop marks, margins, and export specifications. - Offset vs. digital print considerations depending on the project’s scale.

• 7. Digital-Ready Publication Formats

  For digital magazines, e-zines, and interactive brochures: - PDF (screen-optimized) - Interactive PDFs with clickable links, anchors, navigation, and embedded media - Responsive web-based formats (if applicable) - Social media teaser graphics for promotional use - E-reader compatible files (EPUB or MOBI if requested)

• 8. Mockups & Presentation Files

  High-quality mock-ups showcasing the publication in real-world contexts. These are helpful in visualizing how the final product will exist in the world.

• 9. Final File Package

  Delivered in neatly organized folders including: - Print-ready files (PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-4) - Web-ready versions (compressed PDFs or image files) - Editable source files (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator as applicable) - Asset folders: Fonts (licensed or outlined), illustrations, icons, and images - Documentation on how to update templates if the client will continue producing issues

• 10. Optional Add-Ons

  - Template creation for recurring issues or future updates - Art direction for future issues - Content refinement: Light editing for flow and visual storytelling - Social media promo kits (reels/story formats for issue announcements)