Micah Shannon
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Identity Logo Publication Layout Animation  (Concept Work)
Gristle

Story
A raw, unflinching portrait of humanity, Gristle is a magazine that chews on life’s toughest social justice issues through the lens of real personal stories. This issue wrestles with the psychological toll of the Israel-Palestine conflict on kids.




*All photography and footage is for illustrative purposes only. Photos and videos have not been licensed and all rights belong to original creaters/owners.



The Wordmark

By looking at issues through unfiltered personal stories, Gristle aims to bridge the gap between shallow media discourse and lived reality, shedding light on the real people behind every statistic, policy, and conflict.

The wordmark embodies Gristle’s mission—confronting readers with conflicting perspectives, intricate social dynamics, and uncomfortable truths. 




The duality of brutal circumstances and vulnerable human stories manifest in the wordmark’s combo of harsh angles and soft, rounded corners. Irregular letterforms embody the discomfort intended for readers as they wrestle with each issue. Each piece interlocks, just like the stories, creating a complex but united narrative. 






Sketch exploration





 
This animation represents Gristle’s tenets. Individual stories tear free from a seemingly surface-level issue—each a voice, pulsing with life and restless energy and demanding to be heard. As they reunite, we see the full picture, each individual story a part of one bigger, unified narrative.





The Magazine


This issue is focused on kids stuck in the Israel-Palestine conflict and the unbearable weight of their daily lives. As decades of deep-rooted political tension boils over, the next generation are the ones who truly suffer.



A wide variety of layout explores, focused on developing a structured system that can be manipulated to let some really raw and unexpected moments shine through:






Final Spreads

The final layouts use disruptive type and jarring juxtaposition of images to vividly describe the trauma caused, humanizing these kids and their lived experience.



























Issue Trailer

A promotional trailer that gives viewers a visceral glimpse into the issue.














Email

SHANNOM7@MAIL.UC.EDU








A designer & illustrator crafting playful, honest stories for fellow humans.
© COPYRIGHT 2025
MICAH SHANNON











MicahShannon