Redesign of DIVA magazine
DIVA magazine is Europe’s leading lesbian and bisexual women’s magazine with a circulation of 150,000. DIVA was first launched in 1994 and was in need of a redesign for its 15th year anniversary.
The old DIVA magazine look was ungainly, cheap and dated. Too many different fonts, usage of striking colours together, likes red, yellow and black made magazine hardly readable. The low quality imagery and mixed message from design, layout and content kept impression of magazine cluttered and amateurish. The glossy paper enhanced photography imperfections and enriched a tabloid feeling.
The primary objective of the redesign initiative was to improve DIVA's overall visual presentation and to give the publication a more distinctive and memorable brand identity so that it might begin to move up in the rankings.
The objective was to create a clean and accessible, modern look and gives the page layout stronger impact and a more cohesive look.
New issue of DIVA introduces a number of new design elements whilst retaining some of the recognizable, existing features. I have reinvigorated the overall identity by increasing the pace of rhythm of the layouts and adding stronger typography for the titles and the key sections. I have restructured the top sections of navigation which helped readers navigate through the magazine and made it easier to find articles.
DIVA Magazine's layout AFTER redesign
The core of the magazine remains its long features. The chosen font–Comenia Sans – provides the main font family alongside with Rockwell font used throughout the magazines. The two fonts were settled on for the features provided the necessary mix of ingredients: Rockwell distinctive version of a geometric slab serif design and Comenia Sans a bold sans serif. The titles, top navigation, pull quotes and sidebars are used creating a sense of variety and accessibility. Along with the typography, the imagery has undergone some changes. The picture led layout provide flourish throughout the magazines; the use of commissioned illustrations and a high-quality full page images have been increased which positively affected entire feel of magazine
