University of Oxford
Print, Design System, Templates
Revamping Kellogg College’s annual magazine to share alumni stories and drive fundraising efforts
My role
Creative Director, Lead Designer
In collaboration with
Megan King
Swelter Creative
The challenge
Kellogg College’s annual Connect Magazine plays an important role in sharing stories from across Oxford’s most international and interdisciplinary college, while also supporting alumni engagement and fundraising. Over time, the publication needed a stylistic update to ensure it reflected the forward-thinking nature of the college. It also needed a clear consistent system to unify disparate visual assets that would often come from many sources.
The solution
The goal was to create a fresh, flexible visual system that could serve Connect Magazine for the next five years and beyond. The resulting concept, “Heritage Collage,” draws from Oxford’s history while expressing it through a contemporary, editorial lens. A duotone, heritage-inspired palette establishes continuity, while collage creates space for meaning and narrative in the imagery. Together, these elements form a system that feels both rooted and modern, formal yet expressive.
A system built to last
At the core of the redesign is a modular framework that can accommodate a wide range of stories, from academic research to cultural commentary. The layout system establishes clear hierarchy and rhythm, making long-form content easier to navigate while still leaving room for surprise. Templates were designed to be flexible, not prescriptive, so future issues can evolve without losing their identity. This ensures consistency year over year without locking the magazine into a single look.
A distinctive visual language
The “Heritage Collage” approach uses layered imagery to connect past and present, combining archival references with contemporary photography and graphic elements. The duotone treatment creates a unifying thread across sections while giving each story its own emotional tone. Collage becomes a storytelling device rather than decoration, helping convey complex, interdisciplinary ideas in a more immediate way. The result is a visual language that feels uniquely Kellogg and unmistakably Oxford
A practical toolkit for the team
The final system was delivered as a set of usable, future-proof tools: an annual report template, a custom icon system, and a flexible imagery system. Together, these components make it easy for the college’s team to produce new issues and related materials with confidence and consistency. The toolkit balances structure with freedom, supporting both efficiency and creativity. In practice, it turns Connect Magazine from a one-off publication into a durable platform for the college’s voice.
