The Chemical Engineer magazine

Designing a monthly magazine like The Chemical Engineer means solving a different set of problems every issue. The content spans highly technical articles, industry news, opinion pieces, interviews and infographics — each requiring a different visual approach while holding together as a coherent publication that readers recognise and trust. I had to work out when to let complex content breathe, when a strong visual could carry a page, and how to make dense subject matter engaging. For infographics in particular (see separate portfolio section) the challenge was translating data into something that communicated the important points in a clear, eye-catching way. Cover design is where the creative problem-solving was most visible. Working from little to no brief (aside from a read through of the lead feature), I developed concepts from scratch – finding visual metaphors for abstract technical subjects and executing them to a high standard. Over nearly three decades I produced numerous covers, each one a self-contained creative brief. I also led a comprehensive rebrand of the magazine, redesigning the logo, format and editorial style, and refreshed the look multiple times as the publication evolved. The visual identity extended across supplements, marketing materials, stationery, social media and website graphics — consistent across every touchpoint.