From the Nominator

UCSF Magazine is a flagship publication for the University of California, San Francisco. Published in print and online twice a year, our target audience comprises alumni, grateful patients, and faculty members. Its mission is to engage readers by advancing their understanding of biomedical sciences, human health, and health care. The design of the magazine’s winter 2023 and summer 2024 issues balances UCSF’s strong, proprietary brand and the extraordinary work at the university. In the winter 2023 issue, Marcos Chin provided bold and trippy artwork for the cover story on psychedelics as therapeutic medicine, marrying the acid trip aesthetic with science. In the same issue, “Big Little Lives” explores the microbial world with stunning, enhanced microscopy photos of the organisms in our bodies, so readers can better grasp what our eyes cannot see. The summer 2023 issue’s cover focuses on research studying the brain and teenage depression. The graphic artwork captures the tidal wave of emotions and contemporary issues teenagers face. Both issues showcase preeminent surgeons, and the photography artfully follows them into the operating room to bring our readers into the subjects’ settings. Our typography choices enforce the university’s visual language and help tell the stories of the patients, scientists, clinicians, and educators. The online versions adapt the essence of the print issue into a linear web format. We aim to expand our reach to a broader audience of science- and health-curious readers.

From the Judges

The magazine's use of colors reinforces its brand identity effectively, while its strikingly beautiful layout provides ample space for stories to shine alongside fantastic images and illustrations. The interplay between typography and visuals enhances storytelling, with breathtaking imagery and colorful illustrations sparking curiosity and drawing readers in.