Publication Design: Amicus #2
The second edition of Amicus allowed for a few design tweaks and revisions. This annual report from a law school retains its format with cleaner infographics and (I like to think) better photography, showcasing a solid bit of publication design and this incredible institution.
CLIENT:
Chapman University Fowler School of Law
PROJECT:
An annual report for a law school, second edition
The second edition of this annual publication design afforded opportunities to finesse some elements and incorporate a better set of photographs. Still working within the same framework of AMICUS being an annual report that doesn’t focus on fiscal responsibility or board membership, but the academic pageantry, competitive achievements, academic outcomes and school spirit of a law school, the second edition picked up where the first left off, dovetailing these two chapters in the story of the school and offering a platform for a real school tradition to abe born.
The first edition of AMICUS won a merit award at the 40th Annual Educational Advertising Awards in 2025, as this edition was being printed, but there was still room for improvement. I had never been happy with the infographics in the first edition and made a point of refining these. Ditto some of the photography, and it took a minute or two to sort through some 8,000 still images shot across the course of a frantic academic year.
As publication design goes, AMICUS seems to be fairly unique in its format and focus. I’m sure there are other publications out there doing similar things, but not in quite the same way, with quite the same style, and using a team of one–both a huge advantage as well as a tough load to bear–to do so.
Showcasing the school’s scholarship, bar passage excellence, exceptional employment outcomes, festive admissions office events and ever-improving intake metrics, astonishing national competition achievements, and brilliant staff and alumni profiles has been incredible and placed me squarely at the beating heart of school life–a real privilege.
When I originally designed AMICUS #1, I conceived it as an academic publication design that you resist throwing away because of the quality of the paper, binding and design. This year, it became clear that the content was what was most striking about AMICUS, warranting a second look.
I was responsible for concept layout and design, photography and image editing, copy editing and a little writing as well as proofing and ushering it through final printing.
