Modern Ontrapreneur Magazine
Overview
Editorial Design, Art Direction & Publication Evolution
Led the design and visual direction of Modern Ontrapreneur, a recurring print publication created for Ontraport’s customer community.
Originally brought on for my print expertise, the magazine quickly became a primary focus of my role, where I shaped the editorial design, refined the system, and elevated the overall quality across multiple issues.
Context
Modern Ontrapreneur was a 70–80 page magazine distributed to Ontraport users, featuring long-form content aimed at entrepreneurs and small businesses.
I worked within a cross-functional team that included copywriters, a creative manager, and a project manager. While the editorial content and structure were defined by the team, I was responsible for translating that content into a cohesive and engaging visual experience.
role
Design Lead, responsible for:
Preparing files for print production
Editorial design and layout for each issue
Evolving and maintaining the magazine’s design system
Art direction of photoshoots with in-house photographers
Collaboration with illustrators, writers, and stakeholders
Approach
My focus was on elevating both the visual quality and usability of the magazine while working within an existing structure.
Rather than starting from scratch, I improved and expanded the existing template—refining typography, spacing, and layout systems to create a more polished and consistent reading experience.
Over time, this evolved into a broader redesign that modernized the publication while maintaining continuity for returning readers.
impact
- Elevated the overall visual quality and consistency of the publication
- Created a more flexible and scalable editorial design system
- Improved readability and user experience through refined typography and layout
- Introduced a more practical and user-friendly format
- Strengthened the visual storytelling through art direction and custom photography
reflection
This project reinforced the value of evolving an existing system rather than replacing it—making thoughtful, incremental improvements that compound over time.
It also deepened my experience in art direction and collaborative editorial work, balancing multiple voices and disciplines to create a cohesive final product.