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Writer's pictureDiana Varma

064: Designing Magazines with Nicola Hamilton of Best Health

Updated: Dec 15, 2023



In the second episode of this second magazine miniseries we’re talking all about design with Nicola Hamilton. Nicola is an independent creative based in Toronto, Canada. She began her career at the beloved, city-weekly The Grid (2011-2014). She’s spent time as Chatelaine’s Deputy Art Director (2015-2017) where she helped lead the team through a redesign of both their print and digital properties and as Studio Wyse's Art Director (2017-2020) where she helped redesign, reposition and produce publications for clients such as Xtra, The University of Toronto Magazine, and Ryerson University Magazine. Today, Nicola is the Art Director at Best Health, a part-time design educator, President of The Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) and she maintains an artistic practice via The Scaries, exploring the emotional realities of being creative.


As you can see, Nicola has lots of experience in the world of magazines, designing for various types of magazines of various frequencies for various audiences. In this conversation, she and I cover a lot of ground as we chat about digital versus printed magazine strategy, including the fundamental importance of storytelling. Nicola speaks to the puzzle that is each issue of a magazine, her process as an Art Director, as well as how The Scaries got started and how it has evolved. She offers great advice to anyone hoping to pursue a career in the magazine industry. We also learn what’s in Nicola’s magazine stack right now and she reveals her favourite magazine on the planet. Let’s listen in…





Examples of Nicola's Work:




About Our Guest:

Nicola Hamilton (she/her) is an independent creative based in Toronto, Canada. She began her career at the beloved, city-weekly The Grid (2011-2014). She’s spent time as Chatelaine’s Deputy Art Director (2015-2017) where she helped lead the team through a redesign of both their print and digital properties and as Studio Wyse's Art Director (2017-2020) where she helped redesign, reposition and produce publications for clients such as Xtra, The University of Toronto Magazine, and Ryerson University Magazine. Today, Nicola is the Art Director at Best Health, a part-time design educator, President of The Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) and she maintains an artistic practice via The Scaries, exploring the emotional realities of being creative.




Music (public domain via freesound.org): Marcos H. Bolanos - A Simple Life

Talk Paper Scissors Theme Music: Retro Quirky Upbeat Funk by Lewis Sound Production via Audio Jungle

Boat Origami Photo: Boat Origami Photo by Alex on Unsplash

Episode Cover Art: Canva (remixed by Diana Varma)

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