The Architects’ Journal

In redesigning The Architects’ Journal we wanted to position the AJ as, quite literally, a journal for architects, a working tool as opposed to a glossy coffee book publication. In essence we sought to combine the authoritative feel of a learned journal with the spontaneity of a weekly magazine. To achieve this, we have created a magazine which can be read at two levels; the quick and the long read. The mixture of Akkurat, a Swiss sans serif font, with the authoritative Bembo Schoolbook, creates the impression of a timeless, academic journal with a modern feel. The use of Akkurat Mono for captions and information boxes provides the ‘quick read’. Concept sketches, working drawings, construction photographs and reportage-style photography places the emphasis on the design process as much as on the end result, while the overlapping and hanging images reflect the ‘work in progress’ style of the architectural crit. The smaller format (210mmx265mm) gives a more journal-like feel.