Client project

“Streams of light...”

The Opportunity

Adventist World is the only global media platform that engages the world headquarters with all members of the Seventh-day Adventist church. It has a truly global readership: almost 1.5 million copies per month are printed and distributed free of charge to members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 7 languages, in 8 countries, on 5 continents, to over 150 countries. Another version, Adventist World Digest is printed quarterly in Russian, Serbian, Hungarian.

12 years after it’s original launch, the team knew it was time for a refresh. They asked Types & Symbols to update the magazine and update the brand to be flexible across it’s expanding applications.

Approach

Starting with a series of brand tone exercises, we helped define what the magazine means to its readers. We arrived at the brand tone adjectives that would inform the rest of the design decision: Centrist, Approachable, Global, Expository.

Through intensive design sprints, we focused next on how the brand related to the monthly print magazine and website. Through research and iteration, we introduced a minimalist style that translated well across cultures, languages, and applications.

Streams of Light

In November, 1848, Ellen White, young prophetess for the Adventist people, received a vision from the Lord. She instructed her husband James: “You must begin to print a little paper and send it out to the people…. From this small beginning it was shown to me to be like streams of light that went clear round the world” (Life Sketches, p. 125).

In 2005, the magazine Adventist World was launched as a continuation of that mission to uplift Jesus-Christ, uniting Seventh-day Adventists everywhere in beliefs, mission, life, and hope. The updated wordmark and icon represent a modern take on those Streams of Light circling the globe and the Three Angels' Message of Revelation 14:6–12.

A personal connection

With a renewed focus on global news relating to the Seventh-day Adventist church, a larger portion of the pages were devoted to photojournalism, short stories, and infographics, always relating to the members around the world.

The cover concept features a different church member every issue through portraits and a personal testimony on the inside cover.

Building consistency

The result is a cohesive ecosystem regardless of whether a user interacts with AW via social media, the website, or the printed publication.

“Adventist Review Ministries has found Types & Symbols to be a nearly-ideal partner at a time when we needed to dramatically update our brands and capture the innovation and expansion occurring in our ministry.”

Bill Knott
Executive Director,
Adventist Review Ministries

“Seven years ago, when Andrews University needed expert design help to brand the Andrews Study Bible, it was no surprise that the university’s in-house communication team turned to Mark Cook and his team. Cook’s insightful, high quality service has become a hallmark of Andrews’ identity, as the Study Bible has become a compelling force in advancing the work of the Advent movement around the world—great design for the Good News.”