Leading Design @ thebumdiary.com
→ Leading the visual storytelling of Bum Diary
JUNE 2024 - ONGOING
Going into what I knew would be a wild couple of months, I wanted to do everything in my power to maximize my experiences, growth, and outlook in my first summer away from Riverside County, California. My hometown friends, who had never been to New York before (or the east coast in general), had coordinated with me months prior on living together in the “Concrete Jungle” as a way to mark new growth and explore communities opposite of our familiarity.
We all had our own plans for what the summer would be– some of us had internships and others worked part times jobs– but what came of our summer was Bum Diary, digital publication project for us, by us that is based on our storytelling of unique events from the perspective of Inland Empire bred young adults.
As the Design lead, I created comprehensive web pages to communicate the journalistic expression of our team and regional spirit.
ROLE
Head of Design
Web Designer
Creative Strategy
tools
Figma
Framer
Notion
Objectives
Toward a Scalable, Cohesive Design System
-> Answer this: How might we use our journalistic foundation to tell nuanced stories of regional identity and the American underbelly—while challenging the stagnant formats of mainstream media through more innovative, user-centered digital experiences?
-> Introduce a new CMS (Framer)
-> Introduce regional sectioning in Stories and Columns pages
-> Include an extensive tagging system for story content previewing
-> Create a template system for Story and Columns page to live
→ Site Solution Preview: Story Page
👬 Designing a digital publication brand
FOCUS
💡 Get the stakeholders (cofounders and writers) to agree on a visual direction for the publication
💡 Make tech + design decisions that lay a solid foundation for future maintenance and growth
competitive ANALYSIS
Hearing Things → Indie Music Blog
Hearing Things is a new home for independent music journalism. They are writers and editors with many decades of collective experience covering music and culture at Pitchfork, The Fader, Vibe, Spin, Gawker, Jezebel, and elsewhere.
→ Breakdown of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats
Office Mag → Fashion & Culture
Founded as a print magazine in New York City in 2014, office is a global media network designed to subvert convention with an unorthodox approach to fashion and creative culture at large.
→ Breakdown of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats
No Bells → Underground Music Blog
No Bells originally began in 2021 as a bit of a catch-all for niche music blogging and pieces collecting digital dust. It’s since become a hub of the wider internet underground, looking forwards and backwards at the records that shape scenes and shake our bodies.
→ Breakdown of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats
The pure sensation of regularity that you could only find in the bottom of a rum glass — that is the sweet feeling that Bum Diary seeks to capture. Both in its visual storytelling and content.
→ Site Solution Preview: Column Page
User Research
how are audiences reacting today?
Decline in Recreational Reading: Recent data indicates a significant decrease in reading for pleasure among young people. A survey by the National Literacy Trust found that only 34.6% of eight- to 18-year-olds enjoy reading in their free time, the lowest level in nearly two decades
Increased Reading Among Some Gen Z Segments: Conversely, certain studies highlight that 35% of Gen Z individuals are reading more than they did two years ago, suggesting a nuanced landscape of reading habits within this generation
Diverse Content Consumption: Gen Z readers show a preference for genres like humor (27%), self-help/psychology (25%), true crime (25%), and poetry (23%)
USER PERSONAS
Mateo → Emerging Writer
Age: 22
Occupation: Aspiring Journalist, Recent College Graduate
Location: Riverside, CA
Mateo is a recent journalism graduate from UC Riverside, passionate about storytelling, culture, and community. He discovered The Bum Diary through friends from the Inland Empire and sees it as a fresh, unfiltered space where he can contribute his own voice. He wants a platform that showcases his work in a visually compelling way while staying true to the raw, honest narratives he values.
Jada → Curious Reader
Age: 24
Occupation: Freelance Photographer & Bartender
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Jada stumbled upon The Bum Diary while looking for niche digital publications that blend storytelling with striking visuals. She loves underground art and culture and wants to read stories that feel real, not polished or corporate. She often accesses the site on her phone while commuting and enjoys immersive, multimedia storytelling.
Devin → Community Builder
Age: 27
Occupation: Nonprofit Organizer & Podcast Host
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Devin works in community organizing and runs a podcast about culture and activism. He sees The Bum Diary as an important space for underrepresented voices from the Inland Empire and wants to use it as a tool for connection. He values publications that are easy to navigate and update frequently.
Visual Site Assets
Because our publication values visuals just as much as our writing, our story graphics were leaned to inspire the web direction.
→ the beginning's of our brand identity
Solution
→ Solution: Home page bento!
→ Solution: Story page organized by region