Dune Editorial Series
Problem
Desert Routes magazine wanted a special issue on desert landscapes but their standard template felt too rigid for long-form photo essays. Readers were dropping off after the first spread in digital editions.
Process
I created a modular grid that alternates full-bleed photography with generous whitespace for text. Pull quotes and margin notes break up dense passages. For the digital edition, I added horizontal scroll galleries that mirror the print pacing while taking advantage of the screen format.
Result
The Dune issue became the publication's best-selling single edition. Digital read-through rates jumped from 42% to 71%, and the layout system was adopted as the template for all future special issues.