The cover story for this issue focuses on the history of UAlberta’s famous Tuck Shop cinnamon buns. The campus Tuck Shop produced these buns for decades until 1994, and they still hold a very special place in the hearts of graduates of a certain era. When New Trail previously published a letter to the editor that mentioned the Tuck Shop buns, we had more than 150 responses from alumni sharing memories and asking for the recipe. This was both a great thing—two of the magazine’s goals are to contribute to a feeling of community among alumni and ignite nostalgia—but also a little terrifying, because it meant that when we decided to make it a cover story, we had to get it right. We also had to make the cover interesting enough to appeal to younger alumni who don’t know the history. The art director deliberately chose an artist who creates playful “doodle” illustrations to address all of that concern. By using this notebook aesthetic, we were able to infuse the cover with a fun and youthful vibe, while also incorporating many different pieces of “insider” UAlberta knowledge. So, the cover has a bit of something for everyone, including a number of "easter egg” doodles for anyone who has spent time on campus, as well as specific bun-related memories alumni have shared with us.
From the Judges
Great attention to detail. A rare and engaging lightness. The dimensionality of it makes it stand out (both in construction and also in the fact that you can spend a few minutes with it, while it also works in an instant). It's also very representative of how the judges understand the institution. That tonality is extremely hard to nail.
