The 8th arrondissement of Paris is one of the most prestigious districts of the French capital. It has many of the world’s most famous historical monuments (Arc de Triomphe, Avenue des Champs Élysées, etc.), which also makes it a very popular tourist area.
The artistic direction of the magazine for the 8th arrondissement of Paris draws its aesthetic from the minimalist and elegant graphics of the new logo for its town hall: a perfect geometric 8, cut open at the lower left and upper right.
To create the graphic charter of the magazine, our first typographic choice was the typeface Wigrum designed by Feed in 2011 and available from the French foundry Production Type. Used in all-lowercase letters for article headings, this sans serif typeface has a very distinctive lowercase g in a quasi 8-shape. This unusual shape creates a strong connection by extending the graphic design of the borough’s logo.
The more classical look of Tiempos, designed in 2010 by Kris Sowersby of the Klim Type Foundry, contrasts with the modernist purity of Wigrum and completes the typographic set of the magazine. This typeface offers a contemporary alternative to the traditional Times New Roman, and provides a heritage touch to the magazine, while ensuring a great reading comfort for the composition of the running text of the articles.
The magazine of the 8th arrondissement town hall has been designed in harmony with its new logo. The design of its library of pictograms also had to remain consistent with this style to create a singular and bold visual identity.
The layout of the magazine is based on a flexible grid in order to carry out all the sections; from interviews with personalities who are ambassadors of the 8th arrondissement to practical information for the daily life of its inhabitants. Full-page photography, monumental lettering and rhythmic composition; the magazine’s artistic direction is inspired by the graphic codes of the great fashion and culture magazines to create an experience that is resolutely a “lifestyle” summary of the best the 8th arrondissement has to offer.
