Patchwork Zine
Lead Designer & Co-Founder
As lead designer and co-founder of Patchwork, a student-led literary and arts magazine, I built a digital platform from the ground up to amplify undergraduate creative voices. The challenge was creating a brand identity and digital experience that could balance sophistication with playful energy while remaining flexible enough to evolve with each themed issue.
Drawing inspiration from 90s zines, I developed a cohesive visual system featuring a 12-color palette with intentional pairings, custom typography, and an intuitive website structure. The result is a vibrant, accessible platform that successfully launched its inaugural edition and is currently accepting submissions for its second issue.
Context
Co-founder Lola Hart and I launched Patchwork to address a gap in the undergraduate creative community. While talented student writers and artists existed across campus, there was no dedicated platform that could reach a broad audience and celebrate work from both emerging and established voices.
Student creative work often exists in isolated pockets with limited visibility. There was no cohesive, accessible platform that could showcase the full spectrum of undergraduate creativity (from poetry to painting) in a way that felt both professional and welcoming.
My Role: I led all visual design work including brand identity, magazine spreads, promotional materials, website design and UX, and art direction for each themed issue.
Goals: Establish a flexible visual identity that could evolve across multiple themed issues, create an intuitive digital experience showcasing diverse content types, build a scalable design system, and develop a platform that feels inclusive and accessible to all skill levels.
Process & Solution
Brand Identity
Inspired by 90s zines, Patchwork emphasizes community, experimentation, and freedom of expression. Each issue centers on a unifying theme that offers creative direction while leaving room for individual interpretation.
Color System
I created a 12-color palette with 6 intentional pairings that blend vibrant and muted tones. Each edition centers around one pairing:
First edition (Patchwork): Yellow and red
Second edition (Metamorphosis): Blue and purple
Logo & Typography
I developed the Patchwork logo through hand sketches and iterative refinements in Illustrator. The final logo is bold and dynamic with flexible variations. The typography system includes Brand Type for titles, Rosamila for section headers, and Manrope for body text.
Website
The website provides a straightforward platform for reading the magazine and accessing submission information, with navigation to the latest issue, about page, and submission guidelines. View mockups below or explore Patchwork’s website.
Desktop
Mobile
First Edition: Patchwork
The inaugural issue explored what "patchwork" means to contributors: literally, metaphorically, and emotionally. Centered around the yellow and red color pairing, the design reflects warmth and energy.
Take a look below at some standout spreads or view the full edition here.
Second Edition: Metamorphosis
Currently open for submissions, this issue explores transformation in all its forms. Centered around the blue and purple color pairing, the design evokes depth and change.
