SOMA magazine is a small independent lifestyle and fashion magazine published out of San Francisco. It had a group of committed young tastemakers at the helm, but needed to improve it's production value in order to hold a similar place with it's peers.
My first order of business was to organize our meetings with the editoral staff. This allowed me to start the process for all of the articles' artwork each month. Improving the quality of the photography and illustration was difficult because of the tight budget. I used my photographer connections in New York from my previous positions, as well as researching up and coming photographers who would be willing to shoot for a reduced fee in order to improve their portfolio. As for the look and feel, I unifed the design of the magazine. This gave the magazine a more respectable, professional feel.
Results
With improved photography and illustrations, and a more cohesive look, SOMA captured increased attention on the newsstand. The media noticed. A bevy of articles appeared extolling the cutting-edge title. My first-rate design continued consistently month after month creating a secure space for the SOMA fans.
