President’s Letter

Dear Reader,

It is my honor to present to you the 2023 Helmut Kipphan Cup Journal Competition entry of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo’s TAGA student chapter. This journal is the result of months of collaboration by our dedicated executive board and the help of our department faculty and club members.

The overarching principle we wanted to demonstrate in this year’s journal is “Form Follows Function.” We applied this idea by reminding ourselves, through the process of collecting research, designing layouts, and prototyping packaging, that functionality facilitates effective design. The notion of form follows function also lends itself to accessibility, which is why we’ve chosen to feature the work of authors striving to create a more inclusive world through print and digital media. Our goal was to produce a journal that highlights accessibility in the graphic communication industry by incorporating print and digital design to create a multi-sensory experience.

The look of this year’s journal takes inspiration from the Swiss design tradition. Swiss graphic design takes inspiration from modernism trends of other countries, such as the geometric shapes of Russian Constructivism, the notion of form following function in Germany’s Bauhaus, and the simplicity of De Stijl in the Netherlands. Some of the key characteristics of this design style are the use of a grid system, asymmetric layouts, and sans-serif typefaces. To fit with our overarching theme of accessibility, we applied these principles along with a bold, contrasting color palette to create a journal that is both fun to look at and easily readable.

Our chapter is proud to present this journal which has been produced by students within the Cal Poly Graphic Communication department. We uphold the Cal Poly “Learn by Doing” philosophy by utilizing our own facilities along with resources provided by our sponsors. Our executive board was present throughout every step of the production process.

We outsourced our UV spot varnished covers and custom packaging from a local business on the central coast, Poor Richard’s Press. Todd Ventura, president of the company, invited the team to utilize his facilities and allowed us to be hands-on throughout the production process.

I would like to give special thanks to our dedicated chapter advisor, Dr. Rachel Ma, for her dedication to the team, persistent generosity, and willingness to help bring our ideas to fruition. I would also like to thank the Cal Poly Graphic Communication Department faculty and staff, as well as our generous sponsors. Finally, I would also like to thank the 2023 TAGA judge panel for giving us the opportunity to be a part of an association that encourages a future of innovative thinkers.

Sincerely,

Amber Gourley