Mount Royal University: Article 1 – Branding, Print Production & Digital Publishing Platform
Giving human rights stories a clear voice, a trusted identity, and a lasting home.
Article 1 is Mount Royal University’s human-rights publication, produced through the university’s journalism wing in Calgary. It is a platform for long-form storytelling, investigative features, and podcasts that explore issues of identity, migration, education, culture, and human dignity – locally and globally. The publication features work by students, faculty, researchers, and contributors connected to MRU’s academic community.
The Brief
Article 1 was conceived as more than a student publication. It needed to stand as a credible, accessible, and editorially serious platform – one that could live comfortably in print, online, and across evolving digital channels.
Key goals
- Create a distinct brand identity that reflects trust, credibility, and humanity
- Design a print magazine system flexible enough for thematic issues
- Build a WordPress website that balances editorial polish with ease of use
- Ensure editors and contributors can manage content independently
- Establish a digital foundation that supports accessibility, longevity, and growth
The result needed to honor academic integrity while remaining approachable, modern, and reader-focused.
Our Approach
1. Brand Identity for a Purpose-Driven Publication
Human rights storytelling demands clarity and restraint. The Article 1 brand was designed to be confident without being loud – a visual system that allows stories to lead. We developed:
- A clean, editorial logo system
- A visual language inspired by traditional journalism and contemporary publishing
- Typography and layout rules that support long-form reading
- A brand flexible enough to support print, web, and audio storytelling
The identity gives Article 1 credibility in academic, journalistic, and public spaces, positioning it as a serious publication rather than a short-term project.
2. Print Magazine Template & Production System
Article 1’s print edition plays a central role in its storytelling. Each issue is curated around a theme, requiring a layout system that is both structured and expressive. We created:
- A modular print template for recurring issues
- Clear typographic hierarchy for features, essays, and interviews
- Visual pacing that supports dense, thoughtful content
- A production-ready system that can be reused and evolved over time
This allowed the editorial team to focus on content, not layout mechanics, ensuring consistency across issues while allowing creative freedom.
3. Website Design & WordPress Publishing Platform
The digital home for Article 1 needed to reflect the same editorial integrity as the print edition while remaining easy to update by a rotating editorial team. We designed and built a WordPress site that:
- Is intuitive for editors, students, and faculty contributors
- Supports written features, podcasts, and multimedia storytelling
- Emphasizes readability and accessibility
- Maintains brand consistency across devices
- Can be updated without technical dependency
The result is a platform that empowers the editorial team while preserving design quality and structural consistency.
4. Accessibility & Editorial Longevity
As a university-affiliated publication addressing human rights, accessibility was a core requirement, not an afterthought. The site and templates were built to:
- Support accessible navigation and content structure
- Ensure readability across devices and assistive technologies
- Allow future editorial teams to inherit a stable, understandable system
This ensures Article 1 can continue publishing meaningful work year after year, regardless of staff turnover.
Impact & Key Outcomes
- A clear, credible brand identity for a human-rights publication
- A reusable print system for themed magazine issues
- A flexible WordPress website accessible to non-technical editors
- Consistent storytelling across print and digital formats
- A platform that elevates student and faculty voices
- Long-term sustainability for an academic publication
Article 1 now exists as a unified, recognizable publication – one that supports thoughtful storytelling and meaningful discourse.
Why It Works
- Editorial restraint: Design supports the stories, not the other way around
- Accessibility-first thinking: Inclusive by design
- Ease of use: Editors can publish without friction
- Longevity: Built for future cohorts, not just one issue
- Institutional credibility: Aligns with MRU’s academic standards
FAQ
What is Article 1 by Mount Royal University?
Article 1 is a human-rights publication produced by Mount Royal University’s journalism wing, featuring written stories, podcasts, and research-driven narratives by students, faculty, and contributors.
Why is branding important for an academic publication?
Strong branding establishes credibility, trust, and consistency, helping an academic publication be taken seriously beyond campus while supporting long-term recognition.
How does the Article 1 website support editorial teams?
The WordPress platform is designed to be intuitive, allowing editors to manage content independently while maintaining consistent design and accessibility standards.
What makes Article 1 different from a typical student publication?
Article 1 operates with professional editorial standards, thematic curation, and long-form storytelling, positioning it as a serious human-rights platform rather than a short-term student project.
Does Simple Simple work with universities and public institutions?
Yes. Simple Simple has extensive experience working with universities, municipalities, and public-sector organizations, building platforms that prioritize accessibility, clarity, and long-term stewardship.
