Purpose
The following design was created as part of the project for an organization named The Cultural Chronicles. The Cultural Chronicles is an educational magazine dedicated to showcasing the vibrancy of cultures from around the globe. With an unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusivity, it serves as a compelling resource for inquisitive young minds. Each issue is a journey through the heart of cultural diversity, connecting the past, present, and future. The purpose of the project is to create a magazine page that showcases the heritage, contributions, and cultures of Native Americans and to visually engage a younger audience to connect history to modern culture. The target audience consists of young teenagers aged 12 – 18 who value the country’s cultural legacy, education, diversity, and the arts. This target audience prefers simple, modern visuals with bright, bold color palettes.
Design Rationale
Following extensive research into Native American culture, a color palette, typographic hierarchy, and imagery were carefully selected to reflect the vibrancy, richness, and artistic traditions of Native American communities. The header typeface has sharp lines, a large x-height, an all-caps uppercase character type, and variances in stroke weight of the characters to make it seem as if they were arrows or symbols shown in the Native American artwork, beadwork, and patchwork. For the remaining text like the sub-header, byline, image caption, image attribution, body text, and for the call-to-action, an easy-to-read serif variable typeface that paired well with the header typeface was selected. The selected humanist typefaces resonate with the younger target audience and support the design’s goal of balancing traditional cultural elements with modern visual expression. A color palette was developed by drawing inspiration from the recurring hues found throughout the Native American artwork examined. Rich turquoise-teal tones, deep red, mustard yellow, and black were selected for their cultural resonance and visual impact, creating a palette that is both vibrant and bold. The chosen image serves as a compelling representation of the preservation of Native American culture across generations. By depicting younger individuals actively engaging with traditional practices, it emphasizes the enduring connection between past and present. The strong, confident posture of the leading figure in the foreground creates a sense of empowerment, reinforcing themes of cultural pride and identity.
