THE CHALLENGE
Zeus, a lifestyle magazine for Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community, needed more than just pretty layouts. It needed a voice. A visual identity that could hold space for fashion, activism, food, nightlife, and history without feeling scattered. The goal: create a magazine that felt like a conversation, not a lecture. Something people would actually read, not just flip through.
THE SOLUTION
We built a flexible editorial system that let each story breathe while keeping the magazine cohesive. Bold typography, dynamic layouts, and strategic use of color gave each section its own energy without losing the thread. The design adapted to the content: intimate profiles got space and softness, activism pieces got urgency and contrast, lifestyle features got vibrancy. The tone stayed consistent: direct, unapologetic, and real.
MY PART
As Editorial Designer and Copywriter, here’s what I did:
✔ Developed the creative framework for the magazine’s visual storytelling
✔ Designed layouts for multiple issues, ensuring each one had a cohesive and compelling narrative
✔ Refined the brand’s tone through strategic design choices and copy
✔ Ensured the magazine spoke directly to the audience without pandering or performing
✔ Created a design system that balanced consistency with flexibility across diverse content
THE RESULT
Zeus became more than a magazine. It became a platform for self-expression and connection within Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community. The flexible design system allowed each issue to cover vastly different topics—from queer history and activism to fashion and nightlife—without feeling disjointed. Readers engaged with the content because it felt like it was speaking to them, not at them. The magazine established itself as a credible, authentic voice in a space that needed both visibility and depth.
