ABOUT

Fall 2015 Issue 1

The Maryland Institute College of Art or “MICA,” located in Baltimore is one of the oldest and most prestigious art schools in the country. When approached to help unite their 20 graduate programs through shared content, we developed and designed a semi-annual magazine to connect students, allowing them to share ideas, news and art. The new magazine was titled Commotion. The name comes from the belief that artists and designers create through exploration and investigation, taking inspiration from vast and varied sources, the process can be chaotic, noisy and confusing, but always rewarding. Designed to take readers through the creative journey, we created visually exciting and compelling layouts, with bright pops of color, dynamic typography and custom illustration. We are currently developing the second issue.

Spring 2016 Issue 2

Issue two has striking type design throughout that helps extend the risks taken in the first issue of Commotion while standing completely on its own. The piece features clashes of colors, patterns, and custom fonts inspired by the themes that appear within the content, making each page its own work of art. As gorgeous as the design is, the format maintains the logical structure of the first issue – with the table of contents, student interviews, community outreach articles, student work and professor profiles, owning their place within the larger story. An engaging publication that is so visually stimulating you have to want to turn to the next page.

Fall 2016 Issue 3

Unique on its own and clearly part of the series, Issue three is curated similarly to the first and second issues while taking creative leaps of its own. Issue 3 is as (or more) colorful, more dramatic and yet, never once distracts you from the story on the page. The layout of each word and vivid typefaces focus your eyes on the people, the work and the impact coming out of MICA’s 20 graduate programs.

Commotion Campaign
Produced twice each year to share ideas, news, and of course, art-all that emerges from the 20 graduate programs at MICA, Commotion in print form lives up to its name. Three issues in and we have already created a stir. Each page features gorgeous custom typefaces and an engaging layout that elevates the school, their work and the community. As a vehicle for program show & tell that focuses on the people and the classes that are pushing the envelope in new disciplines and teaching styles, Commotion is helping shape arts education curriculum and the way we look and adapt to the world around us.