An editor's letter is a personal short introduction written by the editor-in-chief, usually located near the front of a magazine. It introduces the issue's theme, highlights featured stories, and connects with readers.
There are two ways I could go about this.
1. Write the editor’s letter on one page and the table of contents on the other
2. Expand the editor’s note on 2 pages and the same with the table of contents
Now the table of contents would be easy to make on 2 pages, however with the letter there is the risk of having a lot of unused space remaining, making the layout just look empty. However, since there are hundreds of photos I’ve taken during the photoshoot, it would give me the chance to add the ones not used as cover but still pretty here, and write some information about them or expand on the topics found inside.
Additional elements:
Images: a photo of me at the top, next to the letter.
Quotation: a quote from the ones in the feature article planning post, because I’ve selected quite a few.
To start from somewhere, I decided on making a bullet point list of things to include in the editor’s letter, relevant to the magazine, topics, spring, and more.
- lifestyle
- topics: fashion, travel, personal growth, positive news positivity
- renewal
- short explanation of title (Vidalia)
- meaning of spring
- impact of colours.
After many, many drafts, this is the final text:
A letter from the editor
There is something about spring that feels magical.
The quiet return of the sun, the longer days, the melodies sung by birds early morning, and how the air just feels..lighter. In a world that moves too quickly, this is a reminder to slow down and notice. Notice how the flowers bloom, how the sky changes from a deep blue to its golden hues. Spring, in many ways, is not just about what blooms around us, but what grows within us once again. It’s finally time to let yourself express who you are through clothes and colours.
Throughout these pages you’ll explore various concepts from the topics of fashion, travelling, personal growth and positive stories from around the globe. From how the colours we wear influence us, to how you can reclaim your mind, and even the animals that have recovered from almost going into extinction. Vidalia was made for readers with various interests.
We created this magazine for people like you, the ones looking for the silver lining and ways of creatively expressing themselves. This issue is not about doing more, it’s about feeling more. Not about becoming someone else just because the world tells you too, but about returning what already belongs and exists within you, with intention.
This is your Spring Reset. Enjoy!
For the design part, I started working of canva on how I would arrange everything, the best way was on a single page, so I’m going to try to make the contents on one page as well.
What I like about the first option is that it looks organic, with the textured background and red dress. However it makes the subject look prioritised over the letter, which shouldn’t be the case, it looks more like a page from within the magazine articles. The second option is more minimalistic and looks cleaner, the text is also the highlight of the page. Ultimately I’ve decided to go with this option.