Cover Design of Inlander Best Of
Scope:
Editorial Design
Illustration
Graphic Design
Layout Design
The Challenge:
In 2024, I was approached to create the cover art and branding assets for the Inlander's "Best of" issue. Spokane was celebrating the 50th anniversary of Expo '74, and the Inlander was looking to lean into a design that reflected the 1970s. I had full creative freedom to build something for the special issue.
Editorial Design
Illustration
Graphic Design
Layout Design
The Challenge:
In 2024, I was approached to create the cover art and branding assets for the Inlander's "Best of" issue. Spokane was celebrating the 50th anniversary of Expo '74, and the Inlander was looking to lean into a design that reflected the 1970s. I had full creative freedom to build something for the special issue.
Retro inspired flower illustration
Inlander Best Of cover design
The Solution:
Since I had already explored a more Peter Max–inspired, psychedelic illustration style with Terrain 14, I decided to take influence from different '70s design styles instead: Schoolhouse Rock and '70s children's television.
As a lover of maximalist design, I went all out, filling as much space as possible. I love creating illustrations that readers have to explore closely with their eyes, and my hope was to create cover art that would draw people to pick up the magazine and look closely.
The cover illustration is populated with various characters doing activities around Spokane. To create visual contrast, I nestled in tiny TV vignettes in a collage-style layout.
Interior cover design of the Inlander Best Of
Example of an interior illustration
Illustration of a child reading a book
Illustration of a person eating ramen
Illustration of a skier
Illustration of a mom and child with record
Illustration of a disco dancer
Illustration of a singer songwriter
Illustration of a guy hammering a nail
Illustration of a person doing yoga with a dog
Illustration of a person eating pizza
The Result:
The Inlander's Best of issue was distributed across Spokane and Kootenai County, and is consistently the biggest and most widely distributed issue every year.
In addition to the publication, the Inlander also hosted a celebration event and used numerous cover assets for promotional materials.
Check out the full issue
Credits:
Creative Director/ Magazine Layout Designer: Ali Blackwood
Illustrator, Cover Designer, Interior Cover Designer: Cody Thomas
Credits:
Creative Director/ Magazine Layout Designer: Ali Blackwood
Illustrator, Cover Designer, Interior Cover Designer: Cody Thomas
