The Courting Cannabis cover and spreads use a bold, illustration-based design to capture audience attention, drawing readers into a story profiling Western Law alumni involved in the burgeoning cannabis industry. In many ways this is still a taboo topic, so we were faced with the question of how to approach the subject, especially since we are a historically safe and traditional publication. We decided to forgo subtlety and address the reality that cannabis is now a part of Canadian life, and our alumni are playing a key role in developing the legitimate sector. The negative space and color choice of the background are a loose nod to the Canadian maple leaf, emphasizing this reality. This is the magazine’s first illustrated cover, with a playful design and clean, bright, colours aimed at making the content approachable, looking to the bright future of the industry not its shady past.
From the Judges
The judges found this entry surprising and irreverent. The illustrations make the piece, with the unusual and striking treatment of the leaves. The color choices, textures, and lush rendering of the foliage have a pleasing intensity. The cover, with its representation of the maple leaf nestled in marijuana leaves, cleverly introduces a story that connects Canada with the burgeoning cannabis industry there. The design throughout is cohesive but not boring. Simple and straightforward page layouts and the playful treatment of the portraits invite the reader into what is still a somewhat taboo topic for this magazine's audience.
