Best of CASE District IV Award
 

Institution: Texas Christian University

Title of entry: TCU Magazine Sesquicentennial Issue

About this entry: To honor TCU's 150th year, we knew we needed to make an unforgettable collectible magazine, which would stand as the historical record for the occasion. We tore up the usual TCU Magazine design structure and planned an expanded five-section, 100-page issue.

Sections encompassed 50-year segments of university history, the future and the usual Class Notes. Each section opened with a two-page spread, either a commissioned illustration or photography, and the visual presentation progressed from black-and-white, to sepia, to muted colors, to high-resolution color photography.

The editorial team planned several immersive feature stories for each section to explain the forces that have shaped TCU — its historical relationship with the Disciples of Christ, a profile of the founding brothers, two 1930s football championships, trailblazing alumni like James Cash, who integrated an entire athletics conference, cutting-edge medical research and much more.

To balance the in-depth storytelling, each section contains shorter, lighthearted historical recaps, including the one-time campus airport and a photo essay of fashion trends during select decades. We also commissioned a fun infographic to illustrate the ways the university has grown over time.

Our colleagues in Creative Services designed a gradient for use during the sesquicentennial year only. We made the most of this design element by applying it to the foil-stamped, soft-touch cover and integrating the gradient in multiple design elements throughout the book.

The result is a beautiful magazine, which has inspired countless compliments and tributes for showcasing the evolution of a university in a compelling way.