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From Scrolls to Chronicles: An Epic Journey from Google Docs to a Soft-Bound Coffee Table Magazine

Writer's picture: Vinay KalliatVinay Kalliat

What started as a blank canvas transformed into a masterpiece of stories, visuals, and impact—a Coffee Table Magazine for a client in the cybersecurity domain.


Purpose


The programme originated from the Scribe Project—a series of insightful blogs passionately crafted by employees and shared internally to spark discussions and inspire innovation. These blogs highlighted the immense intellectual property and deep expertise of employees in India, aiming to showcase their contributions to a global audience.


As the collection grew, it became evident that these stories needed a more impactful medium. The simple Google Docs format transformed into a tangible, polished product that could truly capture the essence of the employees' expertise and creativity.

This is where our expertise came into play. Having already supported the launch and success of the Scribe Project, we were uniquely positioned to elevate it to the next level.


A mockup of the pages showing sample text

Highlights to crafting perfection


The Coffee Table Magazine project was a testament to collaboration and meticulous craftsmanship. Senior leadership actively contributed content, ensuring the final product reflected their vision and expertise, while an iterative approach with the client team and subject matter experts refined every detail. Through innovative "Copilot Sessions," real-time adjustments streamlined the workflow and elevated quality.


Visual elements were reimagined with precision, overcoming challenges to align seamlessly with branding guidelines. Leveraging Adobe InDesign, the team crafted a visually engaging and polished final product that exemplified collective expertise and attention to detail.


Here are some more actions that we took to execute this project:


  1. The Leadership demonstrated remarkable engagement with this assignment, contributing personally crafted content pieces to ensure the magazine reflected their vision and expertise. This active involvement underscored their unwavering commitment and signaled to readers that the project had the full endorsement of the organisation’s senior-most leaders.

  2. We adopted an iterative approach, collaborating closely with a carefully chosen team from the Client office. Each round of revisions involved refining the document based on their feedback, followed by reviews from subject matter experts who provided invaluable insights. This synchronised effort ensured a polished final product that truly reflected collective expertise in both Domain and Design.

  3. We envisioned "Copilot Sessions" as an innovative, hands-on approach to simplify the technical intricacies of the blogs. By collaborating live with experts, we crafted precise adjustments in real-time. These sessions, though intensive, unlocked remarkable efficiency—accelerating edits, securing instant approvals, and transforming the workflow into something profoundly seamless. Built on a foundation of trust with our client, this method not only saved time but also elevated the manuscript’s quality to an exceptional standard.

  4. Visual appeal: We approached visuals with meticulous care - redesigning every letter, every graphic, and every line of code from the ground up. Initial drafts presented challenges—pixelation, spelling errors, and unreadable code were hurdles we systematically addressed. Graphics and illustrations, initially misaligned with the Client's branding, were refined to achieve seamless integration. By orchestrating all these elements into a coherent and visually compelling manuscript, we ensured every detail contributed to an engaging and polished final product.

  5. We used Adobe InDesign: A versatile design and layout tool that enabled us to create polished, visually engaging and consistent layouts. Its precision and robust features were instrumental in ensuring every page was meticulously crafted to captivate readers.


Key Highlights

  • The magazine beautifully integrated elements like photography, illustrations, and infographics to bring stories to life.

  • It became a symbol of pride for our organization, resonating strongly with both internal and external stakeholders.

  • Positive feedback poured in, with readers praising the thoughtful storytelling and visual richness of the publication.


Challenges & Learnings

  • Maintaining creative integrity while accommodating diverse feedback was a delicate balance that required adaptability and consensus-building.

  • Synchronising live "Copilot Sessions" with experts' availability added complexity but ultimately streamlined approvals and edits.

  • Refining visual elements to match branding guidelines while overcoming technical issues like pixelation and formatting errors demanded meticulous attention to detail.

  • The need to adapt to a dynamic project scope while ensuring a cohesive final product was both challenging and rewarding, showcasing the strength of collaboration and focus on execution.


Outcome


The cover designed on MidJourney

Bridging the digital and analogue worlds requires a thoughtful and deliberate approach. The contributors brought a 'digital-first' mindset, evident in both their writing and design sensibilities. We meticulously reimagined these pieces, adapting them into an 'analogue-first' perspective through collaboration and precision.

This transformation was not merely a shift in format but a harmonious convergence of the two worlds, embodying Qonfidi Communications' unique ability to seamlessly integrate and elevate both mediums into a cohesive and impactful final product.

The Coffee Table Magazine was not just a publication; it became a shared experience for everyone - the readers, contributors, Leaders and all stakeholders. It highlighted our collective journey and set a benchmark for future storytelling initiatives. It underscored the importance of using creativity as a bridge to connect people and ideas.





Have you ever been part of a project that turned creativity into impact? Or perhaps you’ve created something that serves as both a celebration and a story? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!


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