Kingdom journaL

A print magazine exploring the lived experiences of young adults on their Christian journey.

Brief

The creative writing team at Adventist Youth Ontario set out to create a lifestyle magazine that empowers young adults to embrace their faith while creatively engaging with the world around them. The goal was to showcase lived experiences from young adults in order to resonate with those who felt disconnected from their faith or underrepresented in secular spaces.

While aligning with the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s brand guidelines, the publication needed to adopt a bold, energetic visual language, distinguishing itself from the church’s traditionally corporate aesthetic and better reflecting the spirit of the content.

Challenge

How can a lifestyle publication engage young adults navigating their faith authentically, without creating fatigue from familiar or institutional church messaging?

Result

A distinct brand identity was developed alongside the publication to establish itself as a standalone extension of the church’s broader work. The logomark combines the elements of a crown and a pen nib—arranged to form a cross through negative space, reinforcing both faith and storytelling at the core of the magazine.

Faith-based narratives were woven into a lifestyle-driven editorial layout, pairing bold imagery with personal storytelling to reflect each contributor’s unique experience. The publication was printed and distributed at an annual province-wide conference in Ontario, connecting young adults from across the region through shared faith and community.

The Creation Grid

A custom 7-column grid system was developed as a visual nod to one of the church’s core principles—the Sabbath. The seventh column serves as a symbolic and functional space that highlights the significance of the Sabbath day, while the remaining six columns organize text, imagery, and supporting design elements. This structure provided flexibility and consistency across the layout, guiding the placement of headers, footers, pull quotes, and captions.

On the cover, the Seventh-day Adventist logo is placed within the seventh column, quietly reinforcing the church’s identity. Inside, the grid becomes more fluid—the seventh column appears only when it serves the design. This flexible use aligns with the church’s brand guidelines, which allow space for creative interpretation without losing meaning.