THE LAST WINGWALKER

Conceptual Project

This project's aim was to create a multi-page feature article spread fit for a national publication. I chose an article featured on BuzzFeed that was written by Suzanne Cope called “The Last Wingwalker.” The article was fascinating and the photos by Mike Bradley were breathtaking. My goal was to create a worthy environment for those words and images to live, and all combined, compel a reader to take a ride with wingwalker, Carol Pilon. I aimed to achieve an aviation and mechanical aesthetic without overwhelming the human aspect, as Ms. Pilon is the focus of the article. I chose a simple sans-serif font with height for the body copy and a stenciled font for the title for their aviation feel. The article copy is justified left for orderliness and care was taken to rectify rivers, widows, and orphans. The graphic elements of stars and dotted lines were added to create visual interest, lead the reader's eye to important elements, and enforce the aesthetic. Bold, angled lines mimic the wings of the plane and create rhythm and texture on the pages. The article spread was entered into the 2017 American Advertising Awards Student Division at the local level and was awarded Gold.