PROJECT OVERVIEW
This project consisted of us taking existing magazine covers and spreads and directly recreating the same layout with different material. The main goal for this project was to create a clean typographic layout for a topic that felt culturally relevant to us.
Magazine Cover
Magazine Spread
PROCESS
The design process for this project first had us finding a magazine spread that we liked and felt as though we could directly replicate. The magazine I ended up choosing was a spread from GQ Magazines. GQ specializes in men's style, culture, and beyond.
The spread I had chosen was from GQ's September 2024 magazine featuring George Clooney and Brad Pitt. I really enjoyed the typographic layout and use of imagery, both on the page cover and spread. I felt as though I could easily recreate both layouts while still also having fun with my chosen topic.
The topic I wanted to talk about was Beyoncé's 2025 Grammy award for her first Album of the Year award. Her album 'Cowboy Carter' was Beyoncé's eighth studio album, conceived the album as a journey through a reinvention of Americana, spotlighting the overlooked contributions of Black pioneers to American musical and cultural history. This album is an incredible blend of genres rooted in country music, inspired by Beyoncé's upbringing in Texas.
Not only did Beyoncé win the 2025 Album of the Year, but she also became the first Black American woman to win Best Country Album. This became my main source of inspiration for the project and to challenge the stereotypes of what makes country music, country music.
DELIVERABLES
The final deliverable for this project was a magazine spread and cover. I created the title, "Country ain't got no soul", inspired from the controversies surrounding what makes country what it is. Why the music genre can only be perceived and performed by certain individuals, while also ignoring a large community of Black Americans and women of color that contribute to the music genre.
Magazine Cover
Magazine Spread
The finished layouts are clean, simple, and show typographical hierarchy. The magazine cover featured an image of Beyoncé from her album photoshoot. The image and typography interact with each other in a playful way. The type chosen for the assignment in the cover has a western, cinematic touch that almost exaggerates the "country" aesthetic. The title was inspired from Beyoncé's album, and the exploration of what country means to people. I added textures to give the image more grunge and have a worn-out look.
The spread featured images from both Beyoncé's album and the 2025 Grammy Award Show. The typography was taken from the GQ spread and was accurately replicated. The finished project felt completed and both components compliment the topic well.