Anxiety Empire
This print magazine explores how systems of society impact mental health.
My role
Creative Director and Editor in Chief
Goal
Raise awareness of how systems of society impact mental health
Outcome
Free print magazine
The process
Having the idea for this free print magazine didn’t come out of nowhere. Instead, it was one step on a journey which included:
posting about mental health on @anxietyempire
interviewing people about mental health,
designing a ‘Mental Health & Safety Poster’,
and being asked to speak at creative events.
@anxietyempire started as an account about mental health in the creative industry. But when I wanted to have in-depth conversations about mental health, Instagram no longer felt like the right platform. That’s when I had the idea for a print magazine.
Once I decided to start the magazine, the process involved: planning, fundraising, design, and launch.
Planning
The planning stage involved:
defining the mission of the magazine,
writing the narrative of the launch edition,
selecting contributors,
setting the art direction.
Fundraising
The fundraising stage involved:
running a successful Kickstarter,
posting on social media,
getting PR and influencers to post about the Kickstarter,
persuading companies to gift rewards,
and creating the imagery and short films.
Design
The design stage involved:
collaborating with graphic designers,
organising photoshoots,
commissioning illustrators,
editing the work of writers,
and managing the project.
Launch
The magazine launched during lockdown. I was selected by LOTI as one of the ‘Top 50 change-makers and pioneers’ of the year for my work on the magazine. Get your free copy of Anxiety Empire.
The outcomes
Outcomes include:
I was selected by LOTI as one of the ‘Top 50 change-makers and pioneers’ for my work on the magazine,
The print magazine received lots of positive reviews, including this one from creative boom.
I’ve been invited to speak about Anxiety Empire at:
London Design Festival,
Ladies, Wine & Design London,
and internal events at design agencies.
A stack of Anxiety Empire magazines
Inside cover of Anxiety Empire magazine
Title page of Haley Nahman's article 'What The Internet Told Me To Do'
Text of Haley Nahman's article
Layout of Derek Owusu's poem 'Starter For 10'
Text layout in Issue 01 of Anxiety Empire magazine
Layout of Maryann Jacobi Grey's interview for Anxiety Empire magazine
Title page for the article from James Leadbitter (AKA The Vacuum Cleaner)
Layout of Laura Bridgeman's piece
Title page featuring photos by Sophie Harris-Taylor
Photography by Sophie Harris-Taylor from her photo series 'Epidermis'