Northwest Review Literary Journal

Branding, Layout Design, Production Design
Client: Northwest Review Foundation

Northwest Review is a nonprofit, volunteer-run literary journal originally founded at the University of Oregon in 1957 and revived in 2020 to continue publishing bold, boundary-pushing work in fiction, poetry and art. In the words of editor and publisher S. Tremaine Nelson, “This is a journal for writers and artists who need proof that their work still matters, that new literature and art can still crack apart the old canon, to make room for newer voices.”

I developed the branding for the relaunch, including a custom wordmark where the counter of the “O” always points northwest — a consistent visual nod to the journal’s name and regional identity. The logo system includes variations for the masthead and an alternate version featuring an owl, adapted from a sketch by the editor and publisher. The identity is clean, flexible and rooted in the journal’s literary heritage.

In addition to the brand design, I created the template for the print journal, including laying out 8 of the 9 issues. The cover and interior were built to feel modern and approachable, with a focus on letting the writing and artwork lead. Working within a tight nonprofit budget, we printed mostly in black and white and included no bleed in the interior — a constraint that shaped a minimal, typography-forward design system. A classic serif and modern sans serif brought structure and flexibility across short stories, poems, essays and visual work. I handled layout, production and prepress for each issue, helping bring this print-first publication to life with clarity and care.