SAM PRAGER
“Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics. Design is so simple, that’s why it is so complicated.”
- Paul Rand
DESIGN
As the Art Director for Current I designed the layout from start to finish, while also curating the selected artists for each edition. With each issue I juggled refining the brand and vision, while simultaneously defining what that brand and vision were.
The layout design of Current has changed slightly since it's inaugural edition, but the core elements have remained and the structure has been refined. I utilized a minimalist approach, mirroring traditional galleries, to keep the focus on the stories of Memphians and the images of their work.
WHAT I DID
ADVERTISING DESIGN
GRAPHIC DESIGN
PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL
LAYOUT DESIGN
ART SELECTION
TYPOGRAPHY
BRANDING
THE COVER
When first designing mockups for Current, I took inspiration from a famously square catalog. Though practically, the shape limits the design, it also enhances its minimalist visual-driven nature.
I tried to maintain a simple, but consistent cover design. No headlines, no portraits, and no information about the contents. The photos are chosen, with approval from myself, by the issue's featured photographer.
EDITORIAL
Most of the written content of Current is told in first person, as a miniature, curated auto-biography of sorts. Utilizing this quote-driven style of journalism allowed me to tell these stories unabridged, creating a unique voice for each feature.
Pieces were simply titled after the subject, or the group / band / institution they were speaking for. Followed by a short introductory summary of the profile.
To elevate the concept, I often incorporated full page photos and utilized a minimalist approach to the typography. Occasionally, asking the featured subject to write their own name, adding another personalized element to the design.
CURATION
The minimalist inspired layout design for Memphis Current is meant to mimic the aesthetic of a classic gallery, stark white pages with simple typography and bold, vivid imagery.
I took many elements into account when curating the art for the upcoming issue. I always tried to include a diverse group of artists, coming from different generations, racial backgrounds, styles and mediums, resulting in a collection whose only common denominator is the city itself.