"The Process isn't Perfect"
OFFSET is an independently published magazine exploring the process of failure and how it leads to perfection and success. It is a creative collaboration with artists and writers telling their stories and life experiences through the use of experimental design.
Roles:
Founder
Creative Director
Editor-in-Chief
Designer
Overview:
With an interest in editorial design and experience in failure, I wanted to create something that showed "the process isn't perfect" and celebrated failures as they lead everyone closer towards their goals.
OFFSET ties to my personal life as all the "failures" I've had have led me closer to perfection and are a crucial part of the learning process.
Goals:
The goals I had in this project where:
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Create a magazine with conceptually strong design
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Reimagine how failure is seen in design
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Give designers a voice and showcase their work
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Mentor designers through an iterative process
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Utilize printing methods for production
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Market through social media to reach designers
This saddle stitched, RISO printed, magazine is a collaborative effort being sold on big cartel:
https://cjenkinsdesignss-shop.bigcartel.com/product/offset-issue-1
Creating a magazine with conceptually strong design
OFFSET was built around the idea that every design decision should serve a clear concept. Rather than focusing purely on aesthetics, the publication emphasizes intentionality—where typography, layout, and imagery all reinforce the underlying ideas. This approach ensures the magazine feels cohesive while allowing each spread to communicate meaning beyond surface-level visuals.
A central goal of OFFSET was to challenge the negative stigma around failure in creative work. Instead of hiding mistakes or unfinished ideas, the magazine embraces them as part of the process. By highlighting iteration, missteps, and growth, the project reframes failure as a necessary and valuable tool for developing stronger, more thoughtful design.
Give designers a voice and showcase their work
OFFSET serves as a platform for designers to share not just their final pieces, but the thinking behind them. The goal was to highlight a range of perspectives and creative approaches, allowing contributors to express their ideas in their own voice. This creates a more personal and authentic representation of the design community.
Work by: Erin Arceo
Mentor designers through an iterative process
Collaboration and feedback played a key role in shaping the work featured in OFFSET. Designers were guided through iteration, encouraging them to refine their concepts and push their ideas further. To support this process, I developed a structured prompt file that provided contributors with a clear starting point and conceptual direction. This prompt acted as both a creative guide and a constraint, helping designers generate ideas while still leaving room for interpretation and experimentation.
Work by: Riley Willis
Utilize printing methods for production
The decision to use laser printing combined with hand folding and saddle-stitch binding was intentional. This approach allowed for greater control over the final product while emphasizing the physicality of print. The hands-on production process reinforces the idea of craft and aligns with the experimental nature of the magazine.
Market through social media to reach designers
To extend the reach of OFFSET beyond its physical format, social media was used as a tool for promotion and engagement. The goal was to connect with a broader audience of designers, share content from the magazine, and create an ongoing conversation around process, experimentation, and creative growth.
Follow along to see more with the upcoming issues on instagram at:
@OFFSETmagazineco
The Process...
The process isn't perfect and throughout this first issue there has been mistakes, accidents, and failures, but all of these had led to the final issue being completed. This magazine has had multiple renditions, covers, and hand done typography. Originally the plan was to utilize RISO printing methods, but through the tedious process of printing, the machine broke and wasn't going to be fixed in time. This was part of the process as the RISO printing method leaves the ink in a state of never being completely dry and would cause problems with handling a magazine.
So enjoy the process with me cause if you can't love it what you do at the worst then you can't really appreciate it when it is at it's best.
First version
Second Idea
Final Front and Back
