The Coastal Gems: Norway’s Most Beautiful Seaside Villages spread was a visual exploration of Norway’s serene coastal towns, with a primary focus on layout, typography, and color. The goal of this assignment was to communicate atmosphere and tone through design rather than relying on dense written content. A cool, natural color palette and generous white space were used to reflect the peacefulness and simplicity of seaside life. Grid alignment and hierarchy helped guide the viewer across the page while supporting a sense of calm consistency. One of the main challenges was balancing large image areas with text blocks in a way that felt dynamic but not overcrowded. The final result captures the elegance of Norway’s villages through restrained, intentional design choices.
Coastal Gems:
Publication design 1
The Research
The Coastal Gems: Norway’s Most Beautiful Seaside Villages spread was developed through a combination of visual research and design experimentation. Early stages of the project involved gathering references on Norwegian coastal towns—studying their architecture, natural landscapes, cultural traditions, and seasonal atmosphere. Visual cues such as white wooden homes, colorful harbors, cobblestone streets, and dramatic fjords helped inform both the photographic choices and the overall tone of the layout.
Particular attention was paid to the mood conveyed by travel editorials and minimalist Scandinavian design. This research directly influenced the muted color palette, spacious layout, and editorial typographic choices used throughout the spread. Inspiration was also drawn from modern travel magazines, where image-forward storytelling and clean grid systems allow the visuals to take the lead. Ultimately, the design reflects the peaceful rhythm of life in Norway’s seaside villages, built from a foundation of careful cultural and visual research.
