Journey Magazine is a student-run publication at Florida A&M University that highlights the voices, stories, and creativity of the student body while celebrating the culture and legacy of FAMU. As Creative Director, I helped shape the visual identity of the magazine by leading photoshoots, developing concepts, and ensuring each issue felt cohesive and impactful. My role focused on bringing stories to life visually and creating a strong, recognizable brand that reflected both creativity and excellence.
After stepping into the role of Editor-in-Chief, I expanded my leadership to oversee the full production of the magazine. I guided the editorial vision, managed a team of writers and creatives, and worked to ensure each issue told meaningful stories that connected with our audience. From concept to final publication, I played a key role in turning ideas into a finished product that represents the pride, talent, and culture of FAMU.
The Time Capsule issue of Journey Magazine was especially meaningful to me because it marked my transition into the role of Editor-in-Chief and allowed me to bring my vision to life on a larger scale. Pitched by my Managing Editor, Raina Smith, the issue was inspired by the personal journey one goes through at FAMU and the deep appreciation for FAMU’s legacy. This issue was created to honor the generations, culture, and pride that shape the university experience. I led the full creative and editorial direction, working closely with my team to ensure every story, visual, and design element reflected the theme of preserving memories while celebrating growth. From concept development to final production, I guided the process of turning this issue into something intentional and impactful, making sure it not only highlighted student voices but also captured the spirit and lasting influence of the FAMUly.
The Tribe issue of Journey Magazine was the first project that truly sparked my passion for creative direction and editorial design. Centered on the idea that “tribes” can exist in many forms such as friend groups, sorority sisterhood, and even coworkers who become family, this issue explored the meaningful connections that shape our lives. I led the creative direction for the cover and played a key role in building out the spreads, pushing myself to not only generate ideas but also execute them at a high level. Working closely with the full creative team, I collaborated to ensure the visuals and layouts aligned with the theme, resulting in a final product that we were all proud of and that helped define my voice as a creative.
Sydney Mclennan 