Beyond Cinema Magazine

Most movies tend to be so slick and highly polished that we often forget the grunt work and constant revisions behind them. Beyond Cinema is an industry magazine dedicated to exploring the business of cinema in all its forms: scouting locations, the ins and outs of indie production, securing financing, etc.

Having previously collaborated on an award-winning publication, it was an easy decision to turn to Cory when launching Beyond Cinema. Cory’s attention to the nuances of design created the lasting brand recognition we were striving for, allowing our new brand to feel both fresh and effectively familiar. - Elliot V. Kotek, Editor-in-Chief, Beyond Cinema

The concept for Beyond Cinema was to let the movies speak for themselves. Give the images the space to shine, and, in the grand tradition of title cards, let the typography also have its own presence. It’s not always easy to embrace simplicity because simplicity in design takes courage. Still, Beyond Cinema proves that great photography and thoughtfully framed words can create something powerful and meaningful.

Beyond Cinema exemplifies what a small, passionate team can achieve when united by purpose; the project included creative direction, art direction, design, and print production. With content and editorial by Elliott Kotek, photography by Scott McDermott, and publication by Peter Trimarco for the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI). Printed by RR Donnelley in California and distributed at major film festivals - including Sundance, Cannes, and Tribeca - Beyond Cinema carved out its voice as the independent film magazine that not only celebrated the art of filmmaking but championed the stories, struggles, and vision of the creators behind it.

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The Executive Briefing

Thrills are not synonymous with corporate briefings. In this case, the concept was matching the forward-thinkingness of the CEOs and corporate thought leaders who contributed to this briefing with equally forward-thinking design.

The truth is, creating a small publication solely focused on CEO corporate culture was considered a risk. However, the end result proved the critics wrong. The concept and design Cory developed made the project far more successful than we ever could have imagined. - Stefan Linssen, Publisher

Like many corporate endeavors, the content and messaging often end up overthought, over-edited, and ultimately uninspiring. To break away from this cycle, you have to start from scratch and establish a few guiding principles. First, embrace a small, non-traditional format to stand out and be approachable. Second, eliminate the use of PR-approved photos, opting instead for art that felt raw and authentic. Finally, commission the portraits from artists who had never worked in the corporate space, ensuring a fresh and unconventional perspective.

The Executive Briefing was a custom publication created in collaboration with Corpedia and Ethisphere, designed to spotlight the evolving standards of ethical leadership in global business; the project included creative direction, art direction, design, and print production. With content and editorial by Stefan Linssen and illustrations by Tom Jellett, William Rieser, Allison Bruns, and Stanley Chow, each issue brought together thoughtful storytelling and visual clarity. Printed by RR Donnelley in California, the publication was polybagged with every issue of Ethisphere magazine, reaching an audience deeply invested in corporate integrity.

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ReadyMade Magazine

The project was to guest art direct the Holiday issue of a magazine focusing on sustainable lifestyles and do-it-yourself projects geared toward the young and the tragically hip.

Readymade Magazine is an irreverent indie-rock version of Martha Stewart Living. - The New York Times

Stepping into an existing team and taking over as art director is a daunting challenge. The process comes with built-in clichés - preconceived notions about what the product should be, unfamiliar workflows, and the tension between wanting something fresh and the shock of the unexpected. Navigating these dynamics requires sensitivity to the team’s history and the confidence to push boundaries.

The concept was bold: let’s stop thinking of this as just a magazine and instead design it as an interactive workbook. DIY projects would be treated like recipes, with the goal that, by the end of the month, if readers completed every project, nothing would remain of the magazine but scraps and tatters. While we didn’t fully achieve that vision, we succeeded in evolving Readymade into a far more interactive and engaging experience.

ReadyMade was an independent, do-it-yourself magazine published by Walltext, Inc. The project included creative direction, art direction, and design. The magazine’s editorial leadership by Shoshana Berger, featuring contributions from across the creative landscape - including Todd Oldham - attracted a young, urban-minded, and environmentally conscious audience. ReadyMade offered an empowering, hands-on experience that blended creativity, sustainability, and style, setting a new standard for interactive editorial content.

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Kono Magazine

With Kono Magazine, the goal was to strike a balance between specialized learning and a broader exploration of true kids’ culture.

Cory was the first and only designer who really understood Kono's vision. He created a world for kids that was fresh, energetic, and cool without the kiddie cliches or cheesiness that we had seen with other attempts at brand identity. - HK Kim, Editor-in-Chief, Kono Magazine

The concept was to create the first fully immersive kids’ lifestyle magazine that seamlessly combined all aspects of a child’s life without losing the element of fun. Movies, video games, books, sports, health, and more — every topic that shapes a child’s world was included. Unlike most kids’ magazines, which tend to focus on a single aspect of childhood, this magazine aimed to treat kids as seriously as any publication would treat its readership. While children’s lives are often influenced by parents and other external factors, they still have active, curious minds and a desire to engage with a wide range of cultural touchpoints.

Kono was a kids-first consumer lifestyle magazine published by Kono Media; the project included creative direction, art direction, design, editorial, print production, sales, and subscription management. The Editor-in-Chief was HK Kim. Illustrations by Paul Howalt, Jonny Arvizu, Stevel Tansley, and more. The magazine was printed by RR Donnelley in California and distributed internationally to martial arts schools and newsstands across the United States. Supported by every major movie and television studio, Kono quickly positioned itself as the go-to lifestyle magazine for kids - earning credibility by taking its young audience seriously and growing to a circulation of 200,000 within its first year.

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