Cozi Magazine

Cozi is a seasonal magazine dedicated to the cozy gaming space. Focusing on relaxing, narrative-driven games, Cozi caters to those seeking an escape.

DATE

August 2024 – December 2024

ROLES

Researcher

Art Direction

Editorial Layout,

Typography

Photo Editing

Illustration

Branding

TOOLS

Figma

InDesign

Illustrator

Photoshop

Google Suite

DELIVERABLES

Curate and write articles

Curate and create art and illustrations

Design magazine spreads

Prepare files for imposition and binding

Print, cut, and assemble the magazine

Problem

Gaming magazines skew content towards large AAA title games for PC and tend to leave out games popular in the Cozy Gaming genre, which tend to emphasize games made by independent developers. Cozy gamers need a dedicated space to learn more about the games they love.

Background

While other magazines target AAA titles, Cozy Magazine fills a void by specifically focusing on the Cozy gaming genre. Connected to social media influencers who promote a “cozy” lifestyle, Cozi offers a space for gamers of all levels to discover new titles, enhance their gaming experiences, and embrace a more relaxed way of life.

INSIGHT

After looking at some gaming magazines for other genres, and looking through many gaming articles, I knew that the design of Cozi would need to emphasize game artwork and not take away from it. Theming is an important element in creating worlds cozy gamers can escape to, so making sure that the design of the magazine spreads themselves emphasize the various “worlds” these games take users to. Each spread needed to be individually designed to some extent, creating variable color palettes while maintaining the magazine’s cohesive brand.

The Process

Over the course of three months, I independently wrote, curated, designed, and developed a cozy gaming themed magazine for video game players with an interest in the genre. The project involved research and article curation, branding, layout and typography, logo design, photo editing and illustration, and production of the physical magazine.

Design SYstem & Branding

To appeal to an audience that values gaming for relaxation, creativity, and imagination, I ended up choosing a typographic style and color palette which felt soft, friendly, inviting, and muted. I knew that game footage and game art would be a key photographic element throughout the entire magazine and wanted to really let it shine. Borders and banners helped with navigation, differentiating different sections of the magazine. The logo design concept was based on game console and controller parts with rounded corners and an inviting feel.