This isn't your run-of-the-mill academic journal.

When Grace Bible Theological Seminary approached us at Guild Content last year, they wanted help with design and layout of the new journal they were launching in October 2022—Pro Pastor. The goal of this journal wasn’t to be just another run-of-the-mill academic journal, but rather to put theology in the hands of pastors, missionaries, and laypeople. To communicate deep theology in plain language.

The design challenge was clear. How can we take what’s typically seen as stuffy and boring and turn it into something that will not merely be easier for the lay person to read but also be appealing to look at and to hold?

So here’s what we did…

The cover design needed to stand out from other journals. We wanted this to almost feel more like a magazine cover than an academic journal. Pairing bright, solid colors and shapes with the old classic artwork of theologians helped make that happen.

The inside layout needed to match the accessibility of the actual written content on its pages. One way we achieved that was by using wide margins throughout the journal so the content had room to breathe and the reader’s eyes were comfortable scanning each page. We also set the article titles in a large, bold, charming serif font that clearly marks the beginning of a new article while also adding a nice visual element to break up the long-form text.

We were so honored to help bring this publication to life.