Academic Matters – Journal

Sector: Higher Education, Advocacy, Journal, Magazine, Editorial
Editorial Design  |  Custom Illustration

Fall 2020 magazine spread, "Rising to the Challenge: Reflections on a round of pandemic bargaining"
Fall 2021 magazine spread on psychosocial hazards and mental health in unions

Published by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA), Academic Matters is a print and online journal that explores issues relevant to higher education in Ontario, other provinces in Canada, and globally. The print version of Academic Matters is published twice a year and is mailed to 18,000 professors and academic librarians across Canada.

Neglia Design has been working with OCUFA since 2008 to art direct and produce the journal. We create all of the editorial artwork including the custom illustration for the covers.

Spring/Summer 2015 magazine spread on contract instructors, with illustrated green legs
Fall 2018 magazine spread, "Looking at the big picture: A breakdown of university funding in Ontario through the decades"
Academic Matters masthead in white on black, in English and French
Academic Matters typefaces, Franklin Gothic Condensed and Century, with letters, numbers and symbols

The first thing we did was establish and create an original cover illustration style that is unique to the journal. This style allows for endless flexibility in terms of subject matter while being consistent with the illustrated brand.  Besides being visually attractive, it has defined the publication for over a decade and is still going strong.

Illustration of two hands arm wrestling, in teal and gray suit sleeves on an orange background
Illustration of a man with an angel and a devil on his shoulders
Illustration of a graduate in a gown shaking hands with a businessperson on a teal background
Academic Matters Spring 2018 cover, "How should we fund Ontario’s universities?"
Academic Matters Spring/Summer 2015 cover, "Contract Faculty: An International Challenge"
Academic Matters October 2014 cover, "The future of faculty associations"
Academic Matters Oct/Nov 2009 cover, "Debating Tenure"
Academic Matters April/May 2008 cover, "The Green University"
Academic Matters June 2014 cover, "Rethinking Town and Gown"
Academic Matters February/March 2009 cover, "Marketing the Academy"
Academic Matters May 2009 cover, "Ethics in the Academy"
Academic Matters November 2012 cover, "Anger and the Academy"
Academic Matters May 2011 cover, "Acamedia"
Academic Matters Oct/Nov 2011 cover, "Policing Relationships on Campus"
Academic Matters February 2008 cover, "The Seductive Educator"