Design > New Student Magazine

The Nest—New Student Magazine

The Nest was developed as a new student-facing publication designed to build community and introduce incoming students to life at the U. Updated annually and distributed at the start of each semester, the magazine blends storytelling with helpful insights, allowing current students to welcome the next class through shared experiences and practical guidance. Its “basecamp” concept ties directly into the university’s larger brand theme of exploration and adventure.

To give The Nest the feel of a true magazine, I established a clear type hierarchy, added strategic callouts, and crafted a layout that feels polished and contemporary. Utah Red headers anchor key sections, standing out against a softer color palette, while dotted line connectors reinforce the cartographic, exploratory theme.

Imagery celebrates the university’s close connection to the outdoors and active student lifestyle, complemented by ornamental mountain graphics that ground the design in our core brand. The magazine concludes with the “Geared to Rise” mark, a visual reminder that students at the U have the tools and support to rise to new heights.

2025-26 The Nest (with the new branding)

A poster for The NEST at Utah University, showing three students standing outdoors at night under a starry sky, dressed in outdoor gear, with mountains and dry grass in the background.

A two-page brochure or magazine spread featuring an introduction from Joe Boyden, the ASUU Student Body President, with a large red 'HELLO!' heading on the left page and a contents list on the right page. The right page includes a photo of a person i

Open college magazine or brochure page with a photo of a house at the top left and a black-and-white portrait of a young man at the bottom right, along with text sections titled 'Sven's Involvement Suggestions' and 'Up for Anything'.

Page from a brochure titled 'Utah Bound Orientation: Start Your U Adventure' with text and a black-and-white portrait of a young woman in the bottom left corner. The right page features a photo of a group of diverse students walking outside near mode

Open magazine spread with text about education and global perspectives, featuring a black and white portrait of Derek Lewis on the left and a photo of a hand holding a map on the right.

A person rock climbing on a cliff with a harness and helmet, while others belay from below. The cliff has a reddish-brown rocky surface and the sky is partly cloudy.

Open magazine spread featuring outdoor adventure photos including groups hiking, rock climbing, camping around a campfire, and scenic landscapes with red rock formations and cloudy skies.

Open magazine spread with text about student involvement opportunities, a portrait of a woman with curly hair smiling outdoors, and a sketch of a person with long hair. The right page has info about campus connections and QR codes for more informatio

Open brochure with text about campus garden and pantry, including a photo of a woman stocking canned goods in a pantry, and an image of a garden with a zucchini and a hand in a yellow gardening glove.

Open magazine spread with articles about campus involvement, community, study abroad, school breaks, work-study, and research; includes a woman holding sunflowers in a greenhouse.

Page from a magazine or brochure about Sadie B Personal Care, featuring an article titled 'Hitting the Target', discussing the launch of her hair care line at Target stores. The page includes a photo of two young women sitting in a shopping cart, smi

A magazine open to pages 20 and 21, featuring articles titled 'Advice from Your' and 'Future Professors.' The left page includes an article about personal experiences and advice for success in higher education, accompanied by a black-and-white photo

Academic brochure for Utah University's The Nest Basecamp for new students, showing three students outdoors at night, with mountain scenery and clear sky, and the front and back covers of the brochure.

2024-25 The Nest (before the new branding)

Open magazine with a young man sitting outside a government building on the left page, and a table of contents on the right page. The cover features large red text "HELLO!" and some highlighted quotes.

Open magazine displaying a house with a porch, cover story titled "Participation Counts," and a photograph of a young man with glasses and a blue shirt smiling in front of bookshelves.

Open book with a photo of two students meditating on yoga mats in a room with a green wall on the left side, and text about welcoming students home and exploring campus communities on the right side, including a floor plan, QR code, and a photo of a

A two-page college brochure with the title "A Warm Welcome" and a photograph of diverse students walking outdoors; the right page contains text about college orientation and student experiences, including a photo of a smiling female student in a red

Open magazine spread with article titled 'Ignite Your Passions' by Victor Hollenbach, College of Engineering, '25. Contains multiple photographs of students engaging in various activities on a college campus, including group discussions, sports, and

Open magazine with text and images, featuring an article titled 'SAYA SAYS YES!!' about finding your college groove, with a photo of a smiling woman outdoors in a red sweater and black earrings, and a smaller photo of a person drawing on grass with a

Open book with pages featuring images of a bee, honey, a smiling student with a backpack, and purple flowers, along with text about creating a sustainable campus at the University of Utah.

Open magazine with article about education and international experiences, featuring a photo of a young man with curly hair, glasses, and a red plaid shirt on the left page, and a person holding a map of Korea on the right page.

An open magazine featuring a guide to student success strategies on the left page with a young woman in a white jacket using binoculars outdoors, and on the right page, an article titled 'Ask Ashley' with a smiling woman wearing glasses inside a buil

Open magazine spread with an interview titled "A Climate of Curiosity" featuring two people seated and talking in a library setting, with bookshelves in the background.

Collage of diverse students engaging in various activities including dancing, playing sports, studying, and socializing, with text stating 'Your Home. Your Passion. Your U.' on a red background.