From the Nominator

Steps magazine is the flagship print publication of California State University - San Marcos, published by the office of communications. In the Spring 2018 issue, Steps magazine highlighted the burgeoning craft beer initiatives at CSUSM. In an effort to continually evolve and elevate the publication, this issue included a cover image of a beer glass with condensation droplets, printed with a clear UV coating to add texture. This issue also included the introduction of a new binding, transitioning the magazine from saddle stitching to a perfect bind. Inside the craft beer issue, the magazine highlighted the launch of the much-anticipated EngiBeering™ certificate program, which seeks to prepare students for the San Diego region’s burgeoning craft-beer industry workforce. Another article focused on the College of Business Administration’s semiannual Craft Brewers Index, a gauge of local brewer confidence in the industry. Alumni profiles delved into the success of two co-owners of the popular Culver Beer Company.

From the Judges

From cover to the last page, this is an excellent magazine. The theme of the issue is really clever. The cover is great -- beer covers tend to do well on newstands, and this cover does an excellent job of tying an appealing photo to the university-specific content inside. The beer package is a fun and informative read, and all of the departments within are engaging and tell a story of life at this university. The travel feature also is well-done. Graphic elements are used effectively. The photos are really bold and colorful, and I like the use of the gold type throughout. The illustrations in "Hitting all the Right Notes" were great. Really nice issue.