Issue 4: The Superhero Issue “Steel Here?"
For Issue 4 of Thee Cult Magazine, I led the project as Editor-in-Chief and Creative Director, overseeing the publication’s full editorial, operational and distribution process. This issue marked a shift from establishing structure to enforcing it, with a clear emphasis on workflow, discipline and consistency across all stages of production. My role spanned managing all commissioned writing, directing contributors through deadlines and revisions, overseeing social media rollout, and maintaining editorial coherence across the issue. All content and design decisions were guided through a centralised process, ensuring consistency from development through to final output.
Alongside this, I led the creative direction of the issue, constructing its visual world through original image-making. I directed and co-shot the editorial photography, and carried out post-production and colour grading, developing a consistent visual language across the magazine. This marked a shift toward a more authored aesthetic, where imagery, design and editorial worked together as a unified system.
In addition to editorial and creative leadership, I oversaw key aspects of production, including selected page design, print management and the expansion of the magazine’s digital infrastructure. This issue also introduced a transition to an online, order-based distribution model, for which I managed the full system - from website updates to fulfilment.Issue 3 marked a defining shift for Thee Cult Magazine, as it established a distinct identity separate from Pop Cult and formalised the publication as a scalable editorial platform. Built around a "2024 in Review" theme - a revisited failed concept from 2024's The Contributors' Issue - the issue focused on refining both visual identity and internal structure. Central to this shift was a redesign of the magazine’s visual language, beginning with the logo. Rather than abandoning the scrapbook aesthetic established in earlier issues, we simplified and abstracted it into a more controlled, adaptable form.
Alongside the development of a distinct visual identity, Issue 3 was supported by a more intentional social media rollout, which functioned not only as a promotional tool but as part of the magazine’s editorial workflow. With the launch of a dedicated Thee Cult platform, social media became a primary space for communicating briefs, promoting calls for submissions, and maintaining momentum across the production cycle.The assets, designed in Adobe Photoshop, were built to align with the updated visual system - balancing consistency with enough flexibility to accommodate different types of content, from contributor call-outs to feature highlights and section-specific posts. These visuals were used to guide contributors through the process, reinforce deadlines, and establish a recognisable presence as the magazine expanded beyond its original context within Warwick Pop Cult.