Original cover artwork by Charli English

Clear typography supports long-form readability

Wide margins create space for annotation and personal engagement

Design system promotes consistency across varied content

Verandah

A long-running, student-led literary and art journal, each edition brings together writing and visual work from a new group of contributors, while still building on the history of the publication.

Interpretation

The theme of legacy was interpreted as an old garden tended to by new hands. Something ongoing, shaped over time, where each contributor adds to what already exists.

Instead of treating the publication as a finished object, the aim was to create something that could accumulate meaning through use. A space that grows over time, shaped by both contributors and readers.


Collaboration

The project was developed as part of a multidisciplinary team, working closely with both the design and editorial teams. Working with the editorial team informed decisions around pacing, hierarchy, and how different types of writing were presented. The design needed to support the reading experience without interrupting it, allowing each piece to retain its voice while contributing to a cohesive whole.

Collaboration within the design team ensured consistency across the publication. The system needed to be clear and adaptable, allowing multiple designers to contribute while maintaining a unified visual language.


Artwork

The cover artwork was developed in collaboration with Charli English, who created an original painting in response to the theme of legacy. Their practice, which centres on reclaimed materials, offered a parallel interpretation of the concept, reworking existing elements and giving them new meaning.

The painting reflects this idea through its layered and expressive composition, making it well suited as the visual entry point to the publication.


Design system

The design system focuses on creating structure without feeling restrictive. Typography and layout establish a clear hierarchy, helping guide the reader through long-form content while maintaining a calm and consistent rhythm across the publication.

Wide margins were a key decision. They reduce visual density making the text easier to engage with, particularly across longer passages. The wide margins allow room for annotation, reflection, and personal response. Shifting the publication from something that is simply read to something that can be engaged with more actively.

Outcome

The final outcome is a cohesive editorial system that works across a wide range of content while remaining clear and consistent. It supports variation in format and tone without losing structure, allowing individual pieces to stand out while still feeling part of a unified whole.

The publication reflects the idea of legacy as something shaped over time. Rather than presenting a fixed outcome, it creates a framework that continues to evolve through use. Defined not only by its contributors, but by the people who engage with it.