From the Nominator

The ethos of STORIED is based on three goals: captivate, educate, and inspire. We want to grab people’s attention, perhaps reveal something to them they never knew, and inspire both their pride and their continued connection to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. STORIED is a general-interest magazine for Illinois donors, alumni, and friends—an educated and curious audience that is interested in smart, compelling, forward-thinking stories. We focus on feature stories only, carving a niche for ourselves outside of traditional news reporting or alumni magazine content. This issue was particularly special because we were dedicating space to celebrate the anniversary of Memorial Stadium. We were really able to flex our STORIED muscles through the research and story cultivation around this topic. Our audience is comprised of donors who have a lifetime giving of more than $25,000 and donors who gave $1,000 in the previous fiscal year. After every issue, we send out a survey asking readers a series of questions. Common themes run through the responses including: a strong sense of pride and connection to the university, a tendency to read through every story verses only a few, and comments on the beautiful design.

From the Judges

STORIED impressed with its striking visuals, vintage design touches, and scrapbook-like appeal. From compelling profiles to thoughtful campus history, the editorial mix was rich and engaging. The Memorial Stadium feature stood out for its creative use of archival elements and strong photography enhanced the storytelling throughout. A visually dynamic publication.