Guitar World Digital Magazine

Overview

Instrumental guitarists deserve the spotlight. They create narratives and deep connections with their fingers and guitar strings, all without the need for vocals. This genre of music nurtures a profound bond between guitarist and guitar, a connection that inspired me to represent through design. Amit Smith from Guitar World wrote an article titled, “30 Instrumental Guitarists with Something to Say”. I then took this article and created a physical magazine feature that presents each guitarist in a unique light.

  • Narrative Content

  • Image Selection

  • Designing the Spreads

Design Plot

Digital Magazine Flipbook

The Intro Spreads

To introduce the feature in an engaging way, I present my concept of connection with the music by creating an amp and a cord that travels through the first two spreads. This guides the reader along the line and introduces them to the premise of the article.

Typography Audit

Body Copy

Brandon Grotesque Regular 11/14: Used across all body copy.

  • Drawing inspiration from geometric sans serif fonts, this typeface balances friendliness with seriousness while maintaining readability at all sizes. Its small x-height adds a personal touch, making it ideal for conveying the intimate connection between guitarists and their instruments

Display Font 1

Etna: Used for the guitarists names

  • Inspired by Mount Etna itself, this font has a bold and sharp appearance. It features an aesthetic that feels strong and in-your-face, almost as if the font itself became an onomatopoeia. Additionally, it has electric sharp edges that are akin to rock and other electric guitar-featured genres. With these notions in mind, I use the font to represent the names of each artist to establish a clear typographic hierarchy and to emphasize that they have made a name for themselves.

Display Font 2

JMH Typewriter: Used when displaying each guitarist’s nickname or identity

  • Typewriter fonts, a longstanding default choice, carry significance beyond mere tradition. Consider the tactile relationship one forms with a keyboard or physical typewriter – the rhythmic glide of fingers across keys mirrors a guitarist's touch on strings. This analogy underscores the essence behind typewriter fonts; they visually embody the hand-eye coordination and profound connection essential for mastering any craft, akin to the artistry of musicians.

Photo and Text Credit

The body copy is an abridged version of the work of Amit Sharma of Guitar World. You can find the original article here

Furthermore, I assert no ownership over any of the photos used; they were taken strictly for educational purposes. Below is a list of all the amazing photographers and the guitarists they photographed. Note that photos not mentioned are part of the associated press and are protected under fair use.

Joe Satriani: Guitar World

Nick Johnston: Guitar Interactive Magazine

Steve Vai: Medios y Media/Getty Images

Gutherie Govem: Stirling Elmendorf

Yvette Young: Lily Pearl McLaughlin Photography

Plini: Pickup Music

Julian Lage: The Gazette

Mateus Asato: Shelby Stiefel

Polyphia: Ibanez

Mark Lettieri: Prsguitars

Matteo Mancuso: Pietro Parrinello

Mike Daws: Daddario

Lari Basilio: Juarez Rodrigues

Andy Timmons: Dimarzio

Greg Howe: Fred Morledge

Friers and Kennedy: Getty Images

Angel Vivaldi: Andrew Minarik

Marcos Mena: Fecking Bahamas

John Mclaughlin: Guitar.com