Alumni Magazine
Overview
Benedictine University publishes an alumni magazine to share stories of impact, celebrate alumni achievements, and keep its community connected. I’ve designed the 2023, 2024, and 2025 issues, each one building on the last in terms of clarity, polish, and alignment with the university’s evolving brand.
Alumni Magazine
Print & Digital Publication Design
Client: Benedictine University
Issues Featured: 2023, 2024, and 2025 Editions
My Role
I led the design for all three issues, collaborating closely with my internal team and the Benedictine University team on stories, photography, and layout. My responsibilities included:
- Creation of accessible digital PDFs
- Full editorial design and layout
- Typography systems and visual hierarchy
- Image placement and photo editing
- Preparation of print-ready files
Objective
The goal was to modernize Benedictine University’s alumni magazine, which was previously known as Voices. The university wanted a refreshed publication that felt elevated and aligned with their current brand that could engage today’s alumni and community. The redesign needed to support a wide range of content, from feature stories and class notes, to donor highlights, event photography, and more.
Accessibility
In addition to the print layout, I built an accessible PDF version of each magazine, using Adobe InDesign and Acrobat to follow WCAG standards. This included tagging for screen readers, proper heading hierarchy, defined reading order, and alternative text for all images—ensuring the magazine was inclusive and accessible for all audiences.
Approach
Each issue was designed to feel clean, structured, and reader-friendly. I used a strong grid system, consistent type styling, and intentional visual pacing to support readability and let the stories shine. Feature sections were balanced with white space and large photography, while recurring sections followed clear formatting to create a sense of familiarity across issues.
Let’s connect
If you’re looking for a graphic designer who’s organized, collaborative, and easy to work with, I’d love to hear from you. Whether you’ve got a project in mind or just want to start the conversation, reach out anytime.
Based in the Chicago Suburbs. Available for freelance and contract work.