branding and Editorial Design
The main objective was to capture Donald Judd’s minimalist art style while ensuring a captivating visual experience.
Client Donald Judd was a pioneering American artist known for his minimalist sculptures, emphasizing clean lines, geometric forms, and industrial materials. His work focused on space, repetition, and simplicity, challenging traditional ideas of art and sculpture.
Role
Magazine Designer
Timeline2 Months
Tools
Illustrator and Indesign
Size8x10 inch
This project draws inspiration from Donald Judd’s minimalist style, aiming to balance visual simplicity with an engaging user experience. Through a reverse viewer journey, a restrained color palette, and structural elements like framing lines and an 8x6 grid, the design reflects Judd’s clean, geometric aesthetic. Iterative feedback led to thoughtful enhancements—including selective color use and pull quotes—adding depth while staying true to minimalist values.
Version 2:
Critique Notes Page 1-2:
• The cover should mirror the content in the book
• Contents matches his overall style
• Maybe add Some color
Critique Notes 3-4 :
• Try adding pull quotes and other such to fill in the white space
• Maybe add some color
• Shorten width of paragraphs
• And possibly add quotes
• Try making the text size much smaller
Critique Notes 5-6:
- Size of text in image description is too big
- Matches overall style of artist
Critique Notes 7-8:
-
Overall text on both
-
Spreads are too big try 10
pt
-
Try adding color and pull
quotes
- Try implementing color and pull quotes
Critique Notes 1-2:
- Too confusing, flip around
- needs something to fill white space
Critique Notes 3-4:
- Needs something to fill white space
The reason I decided to embark on a second ideation was that I didn’t
feel satisfied with my initial concept. There were numerous spots of
white space throughout each spread. After some thought and research,
I concluded that adding lines around each page to frame thetext would
be beneficial. This also ties into the images I selected for this project, as
they all feature a similar framing in the way they are placed in a room with
ample empty space, referencing his work.
Critique 7-8:
- Needs something to fill white space
- Explaining complex Minimalist concepts clearly
- Addressing Judd’s rejection of traditional art categories and symbolism.
- Presenting large, precise installations as Judd intended, which is technically demanding.
- Engaging audiences unfamiliar with subtle, non-narrative, non-symbolic art.
-
Balancing Judd’s purist ideals with modern presentation methods.
- Keeping the project visually clean, organized, and conceptually consistent.
Pull quotes introduce rhythm and narrative depth, while framing lines and an 8x6 grid system ground the layout in Judd’s signature geometric clarity. Together, these elements create a cohesive experience that honors Judd’s legacy while inviting modern engagement.
Reverse Viewer Journey:An unconventional layout that guides the audience backward, encouraging slower, more thoughtful interaction—mirroring minimalist contemplation.
Minimalist Color Palette:Started with 2–3 colors in line with Judd’s preferences; later expanded for enhanced visual appeal based on critique feedback.
8x6 Grid System:Provides a strong structural foundation, allowing for creative freedom while maintaining visual order and clarity.
Framing Lines:Inspired by Judd’s geometric forms, these elements create rhythm and spatial definition throughout the layout.
Pull Quotes:Strategically placed to break up content, adding narrative depth and visual interest.
Iterative Design Process:Responsive to feedback, the project evolved through multiple stages to balance conceptual integrity with user engagement.
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Designed by Me (Daniel Santos) 2024