Beyond the Degree: The Rise of BU Alumni

Creative Direction: Gary Hedrick / Design and Front End Development: Michael Paparisto, Tim Spears, Angela McKenzie

Bostonia Magazine, Boston University’s alumni publication, has been around since 1900 and publishes both in print and online three times a year. For the Fall 2018 digital issue, I served as Creative Director on several of its main features—leading a fast-paced team to build immersive, high-impact storytelling experiences under some serious deadlines. My goal was simple: elevate the narrative, respect the reader, and create something that felt intuitive, polished, and alive.

Each article was treated like its own unique design challenge—rooted in the Bostonia brand, but driven by the soul of the story itself. I pushed my team to go beyond plug-and-play design, encouraging them to listen to the tone of the piece, interpret it visually, and bring it to life in a way that honored the writer’s intent. With my creative direction, the work became more than just layout—it became visual translation, letting each story breathe and speak for itself in a digital space that felt seamless and considered.