GRAVITY magazine

Client: Orbit Labs, Inc.
Year: 2021-2022

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ART DIRECTION

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ILLUSTRATION

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BRANDING

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LAYOUT & DESIGN

✦ ART DIRECTION ✦ ILLUSTRATION ✦ BRANDING ✦ LAYOUT & DESIGN

Gravity is the field guide for product communities—a print and digital digest from Orbit that explores the theory and practice of building and scaling product communities.

In October of 2021 I began work on Orbit's first in-house publication as Art Director, Designer and Illustrator alongside Gareth Wilson (Senior Editor) and Maurice Cherry (Editor-in-Chief). Our mission with Gravity was to create a beautiful and valuable magazine that inspires and educates the world of community builders.

The variety of work showcased in this case study details my specific contributions for the magazine.

ISSUE 1: ANALYTICS

OVERVIEW

For issue 1, I led the creative effort and oversaw all aspects of branding, illustration, layout, and design. Much of the writing reflects modern ideas related to product communities and associated technology. For this reason, I strategized to present this content as if it were created in the past. Even if the subject matter were to become outdated or irrelevant, the aesthetic captures a nostalgic quality that is worth revisiting.

Primary

SECONDARY

FULL SPREAD LAYOUT + ART

Additionally, Gravity needed to feel uniquely different in comparison to Orbit's space centric style. With that said, the magazine still needed to compliment Orbit as a sub-brand. With this in mind, Gravity's branding was inspired by the retro futuristic visuals reminiscent of the 50’s, 60's and 70's. Ideas presented in past World's Fairs or visuals printed on the covers of old science books provided abundant inspiration for walking the line somewhere between a scientific journal and a magazine.

'TOOLS OF THE TRADE'

'THE METRICS THAT MATTER MOST'

'MINDHUNTING...MEMBER ANALYTICS'

'TRACKING COMMUNITY JOURNEYS'

'...COMMUNITY KPIs' Illustration 1

'...COMMUNITY KPIs' Illustration 2

INSIDE FRONT / BACK

ISSUE 2: GROWTH

OVERVIEW

The first issue was an experiment that helped me zone in on the magazine’s style and tone. The second issue was a fine-tuned process with deliberate choices. One such deliberation was to limit each issue to a unique monochromatic color palette. By predetermining the colors, it helped tie everything together, even when enlisting a variety of artists with different creative styles.

PRIMARY

SECONDARY

FULL SPREAD LAYOUT + ART

In issue 2, I continued my work on layout and design and took on additional responsibilities in art direction. While I continued to illustrate the cover and a few articles, I enlisted the help of four illustrators to assist with the workload. Knowing that passing the torch would be an eventual strategy, I managed and art directed these illustrators to maintain the magazine's tradition.