Silo

Publishing research without making it feel academic

Silo translates dense research about materials, cities and construction into an editorial experience with urgency. The identity uses acid colour, severe cropping and an index-led structure that rewards both scanning and deep reading.

The challenge: density without distance

Long essays, technical drawings and field photography had to coexist without turning the publication into a conventional academic journal. We mapped the content by reading behaviour rather than format: quick signals, medium-length arguments and deep reference material.

This hierarchy informed both the visual system and the CMS, giving editors a clear way to pace an issue without forcing every article into the same template.

An issue can change tone without losing the publication

Each edition receives its own accent and image logic, while the typographic framework remains constant. This creates a recognisable archive that still allows guest editors to leave a visible trace.

A narrow utility typeface carries metadata and navigation; a heavier display voice creates interruption and rhythm. Images can operate as evidence, atmosphere or argument, with different cropping rules for each role.

A publishing tool, not just a website

The project included editorial strategy, art direction, templates, publication rules and a responsive reading platform. The modular CMS lets the team build essays, visual investigations and annotated archives without developer support.

After launch, the average reading session increased because the interface made related material visible without interrupting the main text. More importantly, the editors gained a system they could challenge without breaking.