Editorial design, Print design

The Brief

For 20 years NARC Magazine has been a cornerstone of independent arts and music journalism in the North East — providing a platform for underrepresented voices, emerging talent and alternative culture. NARC originally came to us with a need for their magazine to be produced on a monthly basis. Over the years this relationship has developed hugely, and we are proud to now be an integral part of how this organisation is branded, outside of just the monthly design of the magazine.

As the publication covers a diverse mix of music, performance, visual art, and local events — we have created a branding system that allows for the creation of dynamic layouts and distinctive typography to be used in quick, flexible and adaptable ways.

The Process

Editorial Design & Production

With each monthly issue we work to tight production deadlines, collaborating with photographers, illustrators and copywriters, to create a vibrant magazine that stands alone each time, but also adheres to the established guidelines that we have developed. Unlike a brochure, which may be amended back and forth for many weeks or months, a quick-turnaround magazine requires a huge amount of trust in our design work — as there just isn’t time for rounds of amendments.

Beyond the magazine

What began as a print project has since expanded into various other sister projects — including NARC Fest — the magazine’s flagship live music event, and NARC TV, a video series celebrating local talent. In both cases, we’ve adapted the visual identity of the magazine to new formats and audiences while retaining the same consistent look and feel.

The Outcome

NARC continues to be one of the North East’s most respected cultural publications, and we’re very proud to continue to play a role in its growth.