Award: 1st Place, Slick Publications 2017 – Explore the Valley
Competition: Virginia Press Association (VPA) Annual Advertising Contest
Publication: The News Virginian
A highlight of my 10-award sweep in 2017 was securing 1st Place in the Slick Publications category for the magazine Explore the Valley. This category (A14) is reserved for multi-page standalone sections featuring slick covers or pages, judged on the quality of design, execution, and reproduction. This specific magazine served as a premier tourism guide, distributed both within the newspaper and at key local tourism hubs.
I played a central role in the creative direction of this publication, overseeing the comprehensive layout and the design of high-impact advertisements that captured the essence of our region.
Design Strategy:
- Premium Visual Experience: Utilized the high-gloss “slick” format to showcase vibrant, full-color photography and sophisticated layouts that met the VPA’s highest standards for reproduction quality.
- Tourism-Focused Layout: Designed the guide to serve two distinct audiences: local newspaper subscribers and visiting tourists at regional welcome centers.
- Thematic Consistency: Created a cohesive visual narrative through the use of consistent typography and graphical elements that highlighted local events, dining, and outdoor recreation.
- Complex Ad Management: Integrated a wide variety of local business advertisements—from wineries to historic sites—into the editorial flow, ensuring each ad felt like a natural part of the reader’s discovery.
Discover the Heart of the Blue Ridge Take a digital stroll through the award-winning 2017 edition of Explore the Valley, the premier lifestyle and tourism guide for the Shenandoah Valley. This “slick” publication was honored with 1st Place by the Virginia Press Association for its exceptional design and reproduction quality.
As you flip through these pages, you will experience:
- High-Impact Visuals: A high-gloss layout featuring stunning regional photography that captures the natural beauty of the valley.
- Curated Local Content: Detailed guides on local wineries, historic landmarks, and outdoor adventures, seamlessly integrated with professional advertisement designs.
- Strategic Design: A clean, sophisticated organizational structure that served both the daily newspaper audience and regional tourism centers.
Experience the professional craftsmanship and local expertise that made this publication the top-ranked tourism guide in Virginia for 2017.