The Vision Journal

The Vision Journal

Publishing and Copyediting for the VISION Journal

The Vision Journal is an annual student-run publication at the University of Toronto that showcases the creative work and talents of students. The journal welcomes submissions from writers, illustrators, photographers, videographers, and more, offering a platform to celebrate student creativity and insight. In my role as the Publishing Editor and Author’s Lead, I managed a group of artists in the writing, editing, development, structuring, publishing and launch of the journal to enable students to craft compelling narratives that would allow them recognition from Faculty and industry professionals.

Objective

To manage the end-to-end creation of The Vision Journal, guiding editorial and design efforts to produce a polished, cohesive publication that showcases the diverse creative work of students, while fostering collaboration and recognition across the university.

Challenges

  • Ensuring the development of engaging and cohesive narratives that highlight the unique voice of each contributor.

  • Coordinating a team of authors, editors, and designers to meet the project scope and schedule in time for the event launch. 

  • Balancing creative vision with design constraints, ensuring the journal’s layout and branding reflected the diverse content while maintaining visual cohesion.

  • Successfully launching and distributing the journal, fostering recognition and connections with faculty, students, and creative professionals.

Strategies

Publishing

Directed the writing, copyediting, and proofreading process, working closely with writers and editors to ensure content was clear, consistent, and accurate.

Art Direction

Led a team of over 10 contributors to design the journal’s layout and establish a strong visual identity using Adobe Suite and Canva.

Design

Managed the development of content and graphic layouts from concept to final publication, ensuring alignment with brand guidelines and the journal’s tone.

Team Collaboration

Encouraged teamwork by offering constructive feedback and facilitating open communication between writers, editors, and designers to maintain creative consistency.

Launch Coordination

Organized the journal's launch featuring a Poet Laureate, boosting its visibility and offering contributors valuable networking opportunities with industry professionals.

Measurable Results

  • 100 launch attendees including faculty, students, industry professionals

  • 20 storytelling contributions and journal entries

  • Recognized by Mississauga’s Poet Laureate, Wali Shah

Conclusion & Takeaways

My role as the Editor’s and Author’s Lead for the Vision Journal allowed me to express my passion for storytelling by working alongside a group of talented writers, editors, and designers. Helping others transform their experiences into an art form was incredibly rewarding, and I took pride in fostering a collaborative, creative community where everyone could grow in their craft. By directing the writing, copyediting, and design processes and managing the journal’s launch, I contributed to creating a platform that amplified student voices and showcased their talents. This role deepened my expertise in publishing and design, while offering valuable opportunities to coordinate complex editorial projects and deliver impactful content recognized by both academic and industry professionals. Through this experience, I also gained a deeper appreciation for the significance of giving diverse voices a platform and the role community-building plays in the creative process.