An interview series where 19 design students each interview a professional designer. I spoke with Mitchell Johnson, Director of Product Design at Meta, and designed a tabloid newspaper to showcase his insights.

Skills Publication Design, Content Design

Software InDesign, Figma

Course Advanced Typography

Duration 5 weeks, solo

Duration 5 weeks, solo

THE CHALLENGE

THE CHALLENGE

Mitchell Johnson’s nearly decade-long career as a design leader has focused more on strategy rather than hands-on design work—how do I create an visually engaging and fun eight-page newspaper that showcases his insights without being able to rely on many visuals from his archived past projects?

Mitchell Johnson’s nearly decade-long career as a design leader has focused more on strategy rather than hands-on design work—how do I create an visually engaging and fun eight-page newspaper that showcases his insights without being able to rely on many visuals from his archived past projects?

Mitchell Johnson’s nearly decade-long career as a design leader has focused more on strategy rather than hands-on design work—how do I create an visually engaging and fun eight-page newspaper that showcases his insights without being able to rely on many visuals from his archived past projects?

Bringing playfulness with spot illustrations

Because Mitchell worked largely within the entertainment industry, I wanted to reflect this intentional decision and his vibrant personality through spot illustrations found on the cover and throughout the newspaper.

Because Mitchell worked largely within the entertainment industry, I wanted to reflect this intentional decision and his vibrant personality through spot illustrations found on the cover and throughout the newspaper.

Because Mitchell worked largely within the entertainment industry, I wanted to reflect this intentional decision and his vibrant personality through spot illustrations found on the cover and throughout the newspaper.

Breaking down Mitchell's extensive career

It made the most sense to structure my design into three sections:

—Introduction, Design School & Transition to

Industry

—Designing for Microsoft, Walt Disney, & Meta

—Advice for Design Students

Translating from tabloid to a digital experience

To keep the interview engaging digitally, I animated the spot illustrations as floating and included gifs of his work, staying true to my original tabloid design while taking advantage of the screen medium