ashington State
Bar Association
W
DELIVERABLES
Creative Direction
Publication Design & Redesign
Digital Magazine Design
Print Collateral
The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) is a mandatory member organization with more than 34,000 members in Washington state, across the country, and around the world. One of the key benefits of membership is a subscription to NWLawyer, the WSBA’s monthly magazine featuring articles on legal practice, policy, and civil legal aid. Contributing writers include Supreme Court justices, educators, and leading practitioners. I was brought in to ensure the publication’s exceptional content was presented with visual clarity and sophistication, creating layouts that engage readers and reflect the professionalism of the WSBA.
JUSTICE FOR DESIGN
The Washington State Bar Association and NWLawyer magazine faced a challenge when production fell behind schedule and key staff members were preparing to retire. I was brought in to provide immediate creative and production support. Working on-site with the client, I collaborated on refining the magazine’s brand standards while designing efficiently to meet pressing deadlines. Following the redesign, NWLawyer received positive feedback from readers who reported spending more time engaging with the publication thanks to its enhanced visual appeal and improved content organization.
JINA'S ICONS ARE FOUND INNOCENT OF CONFUSION
Icons are everywhere in modern design, but research shows they often serve more of a visual than functional purpose. I use icons selectively, applying them only when they enhance clarity and reinforce understanding. In this project, the icons represent simple, well-established concepts that support the overall message and create a clear, cohesive visual experience.
"The changes that Jina incorporated over the last several issues of NW Lawyer Magazine have been very positive. The marketing team at the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) has done a wonderful job retaining them. Some of the changes were subtle, and some of them more pronounced. All of them reflect the high standards I have come to expect from the WSBA. I now tend to spend more time reading and perusing NW Lawyer than I did with the older format. While the content may be the same, the changes to the layout have made the publication more reader-friendly and more engaging."
Steven D. Weieri
Lawyer, Law Firm Lawyer & CPA
The Law Offices of Steven Weier
ONLINE MAGAZINES ARE ALIVE AND WELL
While the print publication was the primary focus, I was also responsible for producing the online edition. Before I took on the task, preparing the magazine for digital publication required more than ten hours of work. Although I had never used the client’s chosen online publishing software before, I quickly mastered the system and reduced production time to just three hours. This improvement allowed me to refocus on creative development for upcoming issues and helped return the operation to its established production schedule.
A COVER IS WORTH 15,000 WORDS
Each magazine cover plays a critical role in capturing the reader’s attention and driving engagement with both content and advertisers. During my time designing NWLawyer magazine, I transformed the covers from dated stock imagery to striking, newsstand-worthy designs that aligned closely with each issue’s feature story. The refreshed visual direction elevated the magazine’s overall presentation and significantly increased reader interest and recognition.
JINA IS GUILTY OF VASTLY IMPROVING MAGAZINES
Print is far from dead, and if it ever were, I’d want to be leading the investigation. My design career began in publishing, where I’ve served as Creative Director for five national and regional magazines, designed for the Puget Sound Business Journal, and contributed creative direction and consultation to numerous other publications, including Seattle Magazine. When I partnered with the Washington State Bar Association on NWLawyer, the objectives were clear: get the magazine back on schedule and elevate its visual quality. Both goals were achieved through thoughtful design, efficient production processes, and a renewed focus on engaging the reader.
