Freelancer Magazine
Magazine design, editorial design and brand design for a quarterly print and digital publication.
The Challenge
When Sophie Cross had the idea for a magazine made "for a freelance life less ordinary," there was no brand, no format and no template to follow. I came on board as designer and art director from Issue #1, tasked with building a visual identity from a blank page and making sure it could hold up issue after issue for years to come.
The brief needed a format that would stand out on a doormat and feel considered on screen: a square-shaped, 100-page magazine, delivered in print and available digitally, built for a freelance audience who care about good design as much as good content.
“Ange has designed every single issue, and they’ve been amazing since day one and only keep getting better and better. She’s brilliant to work with, can just get on with it and creates a gloriously designed magazine that’s eye-catching and easy-to-read (88-100 pages) every single quarter, hitting the tight deadlines. We’ve become very good friends, and everyone comments on how much they love Freelancer Magazine’s design. ”
The approach
Editorial design is about more than choosing nice fonts, it's grids, hierarchy, imagery and pacing, all working together so a reader stays with the story. For every issue I read the copy first, then decide on the images, illustrations and layout that bring each feature to life, from the interviews and columns to the letters page.
Working closely with Sophie as editor, I've built a system that flexes with each issue's content while keeping the brand instantly recognisable: consistent typography and grid structure, a square format that sets it apart from standard magazines and a cohesive print and digital experience that carries the same quality across both.
The results
Five years and 22 of issues on, Freelancer Magazine has become a fixture in the freelance community, with a loyal readership who look forward to it landing on their doormat every quarter. I still design every issue, and the brand has grown alongside the magazine's Freelancer Magazine Club meet-ups and wider community.
You can read more about what working on the magazine means to me in this piece I wrote when it first started and more on my approach to editorial design here.
Get in touch
Need a magazine, report or brand publication designed with the same care?
I have lost count of the magazines I have designed. I have worked in various industries from fashion to fintech - from start-ups to magazines over one hundred years old. Below is a selection of works created; I also manage pre-press production in sending the files to the printers.
Book a free consultation and let's talk about what's possible.
