Present magazine

When the National Bank of Canada mandated us to completely revamp their Present magazine in 2019, we took it as an opportunity to strengthen the bank’s connection to their top-tier clientele. We approached world-class journalists and photographers to craft a biannual collector’s item that sparks ideas and starts conversations, turning the publication into an extension of the relationship between the National Bank of Canada and its most valued clients.

A magazine that makes a statement
The goal was to craft a classic content piece that resonates with a top-tier audience, engaging them beyond their financial relationship with the bank. The reinvented Present magazine is a publication that brings together a collection of ideas, conversations and stories to spark discussions about everything from the next big international art exhibit to major issues impacting our society.

Creating a collector’s item
A perfectly balanced hybrid of magazine and coffee table book, Present is published biannually in both English and French. Redesigned as a collector’s item, the publication is printed on a refined grid and high-end paper, with pages that alternate between photos and illustrations that include subtle splashes of the National Bank brand’s iconic shade of red, bringing a timeless sense of class to clients’ homes.

Inside Present
The magazine is divided into three sections:

1 — A front-of-book composed of short columns on lifestyle topics – art, food trends, noteworthy books, and more – that entice readers with bite-sized, quickly scannable content.

2 — Feature articles, from in-depth pieces to photo essays, that allow readers to take a moment to dive into topics in a deeper way.

3 — A back-of-book that keeps readers up to date with National Bank’s latest inspiring initiatives with a lifestyle twist.