Cherry Creative’s, “View of the Hill”
Publication Design
View of the Hill is a full print magazine created for all incoming freshmen at Western Kentucky University. The publication is mailed to thousands of new students each summer and includes back to school articles, campus tips, student life features, and guidance for first year success. For the Summer 2025 issue, I served as the Creative Director and Design Fellow for Cherry Creative and was responsible for the complete design and visual direction of the magazine.
I handled the entire magazine design from start to finish. This included art direction, layout design, typography, color palette development, cover design, page flow, and visual storytelling. Staff writers supplied the written content, and I transformed it into a cohesive, print ready publication. I worked independently through the full creative process and prepared the final files for professional printing and distribution.
The magazine needed to speak directly to incoming freshmen who were anxious, excited, and often overwhelmed about starting college. The challenge was to design something welcoming, easy to read, and visually engaging while still keeping it professional and consistent with WKU branding. It also had to balance fun student energy with practical guidance.
Content Review and Planning
Reviewed assigned articles, determined pacing, and planned the visual flow of the publication
Art Direction
Developed a cohesive visual style with warm colors, friendly typography, and layouts that felt exciting and approachable for new students
Layout Design
Created every page from scratch, balancing photos, graphics, pull quotes, and article placement to maintain readability and rhythm
Production
Prepared the final file package for print, ensured brand and quality standards, and collaborated with Cherry Creative leadership during the approval process
The final magazine was printed and mailed to all incoming WKU freshmen. It provided students with helpful guidance for transitioning into college while showcasing a modern and engaging design. The project demonstrated my ability to manage a full publication independently and handle both creative direction and technical production from start to finish.
- Adobe Indesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Lightroom