Unfit to Print is a weekly newsletter, offering pointed commentary on culture, politics, and media. The tone is sharp, irreverent, and rooted in traditional journalistic authority, with a contemporary edge. The visual identity needed to reflect that balance: bold, direct, and subversive.

The project required a visual system that could match the clarity and confidence of the writing while nodding to its roots in old-school journalism. The design had to function across digital formats, from newsletter headers to marketing graphics, and communicate the brand’s tone at a glance.

The identity centers on a custom illustration of a quill and ink bottle paired with a vertically stacked logotype. The imagery references classic publishing symbols, but the stylized, geometric execution adds a sense of disruption and wit. Designed for digital adaptability, the layout delivers strong visual presence across social posts, house ads, and promotional materials.

Developed the full visual identity for Unfit to Print, including custom illustration, logo design, typography, and brand application. Created the quill-and-ink mark from concept to final artwork and paired it with a modern typographic system. Oversaw all design execution across digital platforms, ensuring consistency, clarity, and tonal alignment.

The branding was extended across banner ads, social graphics, and email graphics. Designed with versatility in mind, the mark functions both as a full lockup and as a standalone illustration or icon. Its high contrast and simplified form ensure legibility and impact at various scales and placements.

Helvetica Neue (Bold Condensed) was chosen for titles due to its clarity and restraint. Its neutral, modernist structure provides a visual anchor that contrasts with the expressive illustration, while the bold weight mirrors the tone of the writing. Courier was selected for body text to evoke the feel of typewritten editorial, offering a subtle nod to traditional media formats.

A desaturated blue-gray background adds a sense of seriousness and maturity, while allowing the black illustration and typography to take visual priority. The limited palette reinforces consistency and sharpness across applications.

The visual direction was inspired by mid-century editorial design, particularly Paul Rand’s book covers for The Armed Vision and Forces in Modern British Literature. His blocky, simplified depictions of ink bottles and quills informed the tone and structure of the final mark. Rand’s use of bold geometry and playful asymmetry strike a balance between authority and irreverence, which are qualities that directly informed Unfit to Print’s visual identity.

The quill and ink illustration was intentionally pared down to its most essential forms, echoing Rand’s approach while allowing the brand to stand confidently alongside contemporary editorial design.