From the Nominator

This issue, sent to 160,000 alumni, faculty, staff, donors, and state and local officials, was guided by three words: bold, visual, and surprise. For every story, we asked: Is this bold? Will it visually delight the reader, pulling them into the story? And, will it surprise them? If the answer to any of those questions was “no” (or even “maybe”), we ditched the idea. It’s a lot to ask a reader to keep a print magazine on their coffee table for a year; it has to be something they’ll want to not only save, but flip through again and again. With that in mind, we set about developing an engaging, eye-popping, and long-shelf-life edition that would continue to bring something new every time a reader engaged with it. We also wanted to build on-ramps to our digital site, which we did through the clever use of QR codes and specialized URLs delivering fun bonus content. The result was a glossy, deeply engaging, and wildly entertaining journey through University of California, Los Angeles past, present, and future, offering a 360-view of not just the campus, but of UCLA’s special and integral place in the world. The impact was swift and immediate. Our breezy, personal introduction of our seventh and newest chancellor generated enormous interest not only from alumni but also media and civic, political, and philanthropic communities around Los Angeles. Several universities inquired about our groundbreaking prison education program, and how they might adapt it. We even had people lining up for UCLA tattoos!

From the Judges

UCLA Magazine stands out for its vibrant storytelling, crisp writing, and visually compelling design. The content offers an engaging mix of lively features like the tattoo spread to thoughtful faculty profiles. This highlights the university’s depth and diversity. Strong photography and creative layouts add energy and visual appeal. Altogether, a bold and memorable publication that reflects the spirit of UCLA.