FELINE IN TIME

 The goal was to create a compelling logo for the magazine, with an interesting color palette and interesting typography.  I wanted to make sure that both would attract cat lovers, but also lovers of history. The client also wanted the magazine to feature articles related to cat behavior and cat care. Having a wide scope of focus allowed for a lot of freedom, and a lot interesting choices that wouldn’t be possible if the magazine already existed.

Feline in Time Magazine – Logo, Cover, and Two Page Spread

The Client

The client has a history of financing small, independent magazines. They were interestred in flushing out an idea they had to create a magzine focused on cats, and their historical importance. She wanted a mockup of what the logo and masthead would look like, as well as an article with a two page spread. 

The Problem 

One of the problems with this project was narrowing down the pool of potential artists to one that was famous for their work with cats, but still had an interesting point of view and story to share. A large amount of research was needed to figure out potential artists. After careful consideration the list was narrowed down four people: Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Louis Wain, Theophile Steinlen, and Arthur Rackham. Then, with input from the client, Théophile Steinlen was chosen for the preliminary work. 

The Outcome 

The outcome was a playful magazine cover featuring Théophile Steinlen, and his beautiful works related to cats in the 1800s and 1900s. Steinlen’s cats seems like an excellent starting place because of how beautfiul his work is, and how relevant his perspective is to the world today. Steinlen was a socialist, and also a supporter of rights for working class people. He was a vocal about his support of people in poverty, and he spent much of his time trying to shine a light on the inequities that were occuring in France during his lifetime.  He was a member of a large group of artists that wanted to advocate for social changes using the platform they had as notable artists. He created beautiful works, but he was also an amazing example of standing up for what you believe in.