This was one of my favorite projects — I designed a magazine cover for my college final and treated it like a real, newsstand-ready publication. I dove into print mechanics and Adobe InDesign, building a full layout from headline hierarchy to body type, bleeds, and crop marks. I experimented with paper stocks, finish options, and color profiles to make sure the cover would reproduce cleanly and vibrantly off the press.

The process sharpened both my design eye and my technical skills: creating modular grids, balancing typography with imagery, and fine-tuning kerning and leading so every line reads smoothly. I also mocked up final spreads and a folded spine to test how the cover would feel in hand. The result felt professional and intentional — a real-world project that pushed me to think beyond pixels and design for print.