Design
When I first started writing for Imua, I absolutely dreaded design. Working in Adobe Illustrator and InDesign was incredibly challenging for me, and I didn’t feel the same passion for it as I did for writing or photography. However, as I advanced to the role of Print Content Editor, I began to realize that design is an essential part of print and can significantly influence how an article is received by readers. In my junior year, frequent absences due to other commitments forced me to work on my spreads outside of the newsroom, often with minimal assistance. This pushed me to take initiative and learn how to handle design on my own.
While it was a steep learning curve at first, it proved to be invaluable in the long run, as I dramatically improved and was able to master more advanced design techniques. Attending journalism conventions and seeing the design-forward issues from other schools further fueled my passion for design and inspired me to advocate for its role in the newsroom. Now, design has become an aspect of the print process I look forward to most.
Volume 100: A History of Imua
Designing this article was incredibly daunting, as I had to work with a large number of photos and a significant amount of text. I had to carefully consider the layout, which involved multiple mockups and seeking inspiration from magazine designs online. Ultimately, I decided to dedicate an entire page to a collage of old Imua newspapers that I referenced in my research, overlaying it with a black gradient for a subtle, transparent effect. I wanted the spread to feel both elegant and simple, while also being dynamic through its many elements. The timeline was another challenge, as I worked with different layout styles, including vertical and horizontal formats. In the end, I chose a more unconventional approach and arranged the historical points in three columns, which allowed for more flexibility in presenting the information.
For the article itself, I knew I wanted a dark background to honor Iolani's publication history. I chose a subtle leather black texture that mirrored the look of old Iolani yearbooks. I also decided to feature a quote from a past Imua article that would best represent the range of topics covered, from the Vietnam War to dress code. In the end, I’m incredibly proud of this design because I successfully integrated a variety of photos while maintaining a cohesive and elegant look for the spread.
Volume 100: The Voices that Shaped Imua
This article was unlike many others because it marked the first time Imua featured alumni in the way that I did. For the design, I wanted to keep things simple due to the amount of text. I drew inspiration from the ‘Iolani School Bulletin, which often showcases alumni in a clean, cohesive, and magazine-like format. I experimented with how to present the photos, using a 1980 image of three staffers as the dominant visual to introduce the article. I also utilized text wrap to highlight the pull quote at the center, creating a minimal yet clean design. I featured a collage of four photographs and incorporated another pull quote with a text wrap that entered from the left and was overlaid on a deep maroon red background. Despite the simplicity, I felt the spread was visually pleasing and didn’t detract from the main focus: the text.
Period Warriors and Beyond
If you were to ask me which article changed my view of design, I would point to these two spreads. In November, I was away for almost the entire month due to journalism trips and college visits, which forced me to work on my spreads from my computer. This experience pushed me to learn advanced InDesign skills through YouTube tutorials, allowing me to expand my design capabilities. The feature on the Period Warriors, in particular, gave me a lot of creative freedom, and I was excited to bring my ideas to life.
I wanted the blood motif to be a central theme. The first page features a photograph of a student spinning the prize wheel at the Period Warriors’ kickoff event. To tie into the theme, I highlighted the drop cap in a deep maroon color, which was integrated throughout both spreads. In the bottom left and top right corners, I added a flowing graphic of different shades of red to create visual movement and complement the theme. I also included a statistic in the bottom left corner, using these design elements to both reinforce the "period" theme and eliminate negative white space.
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On the second page, I placed a large blood drop at the center, designed to appear as if it’s falling from the red graphic at the top. Inside this drop is the mission statement of the Period Warriors. To further emphasize inclusivity, I added a short blurb in the bottom left corner explaining why we refer to people who menstruate as "menstruators." This was an intentional design choice to ensure that the article was both informative and sensitive to diverse identities. Overall, I’m proud of how the design elements came together to create a cohesive, engaging spread that enhanced the article's message.
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2024 HHSJA 5th place in Design
For this article, which I also wrote, I wanted the layout to complement the first article while still maintaining its own distinct look. For the headline, I integrated a photo of the bathroom installation with a student pulling a tampon from the box. To ensure the headline remained legible, I applied a gradient that revealed the same deep red color used in the first article. On the first page, I kept the red subtle so it wouldn't overwhelm the spread. I supplemented the photo with the same flowing graphic in the bottom left corner to maintain visual consistency. On the second page, I made most of the background red, with the Q&A section in white to create contrast. To further enhance the design, I included a cutout of a pad box and an unwrapped tampon alongside the Q&A, reinforcing the article's theme in a visually engaging way.
Imuastronomy
The Secret Life of Indy
As part of our April Fools tradition, I worked on two design-heavy spreads. The first spread was a horoscope reading based on astrological signs, and I drew heavy inspiration from horoscope spreads in various magazines. I opted for a simple yet engaging design that would capture the playful spirit of the feature. The astrological sign graphics were created in Illustrator and incorporated a maroon color, tying the design together. At the bottom of the first page, I included a section called "Sign Soulmates," pairing teachers and students with their astrological signs. To add a fun touch and enhance the April Fools theme, I sought out goofy, lighthearted photos of the people involved, which added a playful element to the spread.
The second spread was inspired by the Secret Life of Pets movie, where I featured our school dog, Indy, and explored his own "secret life." For the headline, I used the same font as the one in the Secret Life of Pets title, overlaying it on a photo of Indy lying down in a classroom. To give the spread a personal and informal feel, I designed it to resemble journal entries, incorporating elements like post-its and Polaroid photos. This layout helped bring the playful, lighthearted nature of the article to life, emphasizing Indy’s “secret” adventures in a fun and engaging way.
Fall Issue Cover
For the cover of Volume 100, I knew I needed to create a design that honored our history while prominently featuring “100” in a bold, impactful way. Coming up with ideas for the cover was challenging and required a lot of brainstorming. Ultimately, I decided on a collage of past Imua articles as the background, with a large, red “100” in the foreground, reflecting the iconic ‘Iolani red. With guidance from our adviser, who is a graphic designer, I was able to bring this vision to life, incorporating cream motifs to complement the red. I love this cover because it’s simple yet memorable, serving as both a tribute to Imua’s history and a standout design for our milestone volume.
Design Assistance for Other Articles
Due to a tight deadline and numerous changes within the articles featured in Print, I decided to step in and assist the writers with their design. I worked closely with the writers, ensuring that the design and layout fulfilled their vision for the article.
For the article about school dances, the writer wanted to include Polaroids, juxtaposing a recent photograph of Winter Ball with a 1959 image of a school dance. I created my own Polaroid graphic in Illustrator and used text wraps to feature the photos across the spread. To add a touch of elegance, I chose a serif font that had a star incorporated into the "A," which tied perfectly with the title, "Dancing the Night Away."
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For the article about Saimin, collaborating with a fellow staffer on this spread was exciting, especially since she secured an artist to create the stunning graphics. The article focused on the history of Saimin and discussed local restaurants, so I thought it would be fitting to feature an old restaurant sign in the headline. To enhance the design, I used Text Wrap to seamlessly incorporate the various ingredients into the layout, while also including the graphic of the grandmother and her grandson, which added a personal and nostalgic touch to the spread.