Claire Hanan - The Official Website for Claire - Journalist, Publisher & Mizzou Grad

Our merry little band of editors at SPI has decided launch a magazine for insomniacs. In its essence, the magazine is a lifestyle magazine for the 58% of Americans who want to prevent, cure, or cope with sleeping disorders.

We were all quite surprised to find how much we're excited by the concept. Thus, in my excitement I designed a mock-up cover and some font and color templates -- and also, because I love a good CS5 free trial.

If you, dearest readers, would be so kind as to take a survey to help our efforts to become America's Next Top Magazine, my whole group would really appreciate it.

You can find it here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/877TXJM

As an aside, I'm currently waiting what feels like a millennium for  Illustrator to download so that I can turn the overturned 'e' in the logo into something shaped like an eye. Thoughts?

Because the first week of SPI  is coming to a close, our program directors treated us to magazine tours. My group went the beautiful Conde Nast building at 4 Times Sq., and toured SELF. After looping through the editorial offices, fashion closet and creative department, we sat down with three associate editors and learned a bit more about what it's like to enter the industry.

The editors had all landed at SELF via different paths and learning this was both encouraging and refreshing. The production process is fascinating and ever-changing and I can't wait to be a part of it.

So despite the fact that Times Square resembles a zoo on steriods, today was pretty fabulous.

As my capstone project lurches forward, I thought I'd update my fan club on our progress. Together with the editors at Meredith Corporation, and Professor Fennell, we've decided the focus of our magazine will be brunch. Yes, that meal you might have once a month, or once a year. We're going to give you a reason to have brunch every weekend. Here are a few:

1. Cocktails before 5 p.m.
2. In some cases, pajamas are allowed.
3. While dishes are both sweet and savory, they can be healthy and substantial.
4. It's an implied group event (read: fun).
5. It's more fun than your cardboard cereal, but less hassle than a formal holiday meal.

Have I convinced you? Are you too busy to answer that because you've just ran to your favorite restaurant to order the morning prix fixe menu? If not, I'll just have to let the final prototype do its job.

This semester I'll be working with four other students to produce a stand-only magazine prototype for Meredith Corporation. Under the guidance of John Fennell (ex-editor of Milwaukee Magazine), we'll be writing, designing, editing, and proposing potential business plans for a magazine of our own that will most likely fall into one of these categories: grilling, decorating, DIY holidays, food-focused lifestyle, or general healthy living.

Tomorrow I'll find out the classmates with whom I'll work and then the race to May 6 commences, as we'll be pitching these prototypes to Meredith execs in Des Moines, Iowa. I'll keep you, loyal fans, abreast of any and all updates.