NUVO Magazine, Vol. 10, No. 4

Art direction, design and creative direction of photo shoots for NUVO Magazine, a quarterly Canadian lifestyle publication dedicated to delivering editorial content that is stimulating, evocative, entertaining and informative. The magazine targets affluent, educated men and women with a wide range of topics on travel, business, architecture, design as well as celebrity profiles and fashion editorials. As an Art Director for NUVO, Sandra has redefined publication’s visual style and established design principles that are consistent with the character of the magazine.

Sandra’s commitment to experimentation, whenever an idea or a subject warrants it, is evident in the portrait shoot of a fashion model, Kate Bock. Sandra’s concept for the shoot was based on exploration of different perspectives of a subject in a relaxed setting. She avoided hiring a fashion photographer and instead, commissioned a multitalented artist, Justin Adams for his documentary-style approach. Shot on 35mm film, relying solely on daylight, the grainy images with saturated colours are playful, spontaneous and reveal Kate’s own personality. The success of the photo shoot resulted with additional photographs being used for the women’s fashion editorial. Sometimes shadowy and spontaneous, sometimes intricately staged the photos are dramatic and intriguing. Theatrical hair and makeup and uniqueness of the clothing resonate with the layout design: large headline is cropped, black bars draw attention to the featured brands and images varying in size are arranged into a lively composition.

A willingness to take chances in photography is also evident in Clinton Hussey’s creative take on the lipsticks of the season for a Looking Good department. In a lighthearted tone, the photo plays on the idea of lipsticks growing out of an egg packaging. Editorial design presents numerous possibilities to tell a story. For an article about a producer and musician, Daniel Lanois, Sandra added colorful elements that float like musical notes across the page evoking the theme in a subtle yet meaningful way.