Paper & Desk

Paper & Desk is a Brisbane-based freelance designer who helps businesses connect with their audience through tailored, on-brand design.

21/08/2026

“Can you take photos of my nuts?” 😂
(I designed the packaging for these nuts a while back)

I would like to clarify that if you would me to take photos of your nuts, I also accept macadamias and almonds. A little behind the scenes of the other stuff I do besides magazine design. I actually frequently get asked to do a lot of photo editing, whether for magazines or for products. Just putting it out there 😉

18/08/2026

NEW WORK ALERT 🚨 I'm stoked to reveal the new look for Equity Magazine, the flagship monthly publication by the Australian Shareholders' Association. What was the challenge, the solution, and the outcome, you ask? (Let's be real here, with Meta's algorithm, NO ONE is asking 🤣). But if you're curious, head on over to my website in the "Publication design" tab, scroll down to find the Equity magazine photo, and click to read.

13/08/2026

Every now and then, clients ask if I can design with, specifically, light text on a dark background across A LOT of pages. It’s usually for something a little special, like an event program, awards night, special section in an annual report, that kind of thing.

And while it can look very nice, there’s a reason most of the stuff we read day-to-day is dark text on a light background. So I thought I’d dig into it a little…

Dark vs light backgrounds: which is better for magazine & annual report readability? I've popped up a short (ish) blog on this topic on the Insights tab of my website (paperanddesk.com/insights)

10/08/2026

A magazine design detail you may or may not have noticed 👀

In this spread for Rio Tinto's Simandou publication, see how the person sits on the left, and they’re looking across the spread (roughly) towards the quote at the top of the right-hand page? That wasn’t accidental. I could’ve popped the quote anywhere, but I loved the idea of using their eyeline to pull the reader across the page. A small detail that nudges you in how you move through the spread.

THIS is the fun stuff about publication design. It goes beyond just “does this look nice?” to thinking about what catches your eye, where it travels next, and how all the little pieces work together.

06/08/2026

When a client says, "We need six images in this spread," my brain immediately starts asking, "What's the most effective and interesting way to do that?"

I could've dropped them into a neat 3 × 2 grid. It would've worked, but I wanted the images to have more impact. One image gets to be the hero across the full left page, while the purple band (which matches the main superhero character in the drawing) leads you across to the remaining images on the right. Some images take centre stage, while others play a supporting role, creating a clearer visual hierarchy and a more engaging journey through the spread.

This is one of the things I love most about magazine design. The first solution is usually the easiest. But a little push and exploration leads to something that feels far more dynamic and memorable. A really fun spread to design for the Queensland Ambulance Service!

If you're looking for someone to lay out a magazine or publication that makes your content easier to read, I'd love to help 📩

02/08/2026

I'd rather crawl into a hole than post testimonials. 😅 But apparently that's not how marketing works (according to my business coach and the marketing gurus), so I'm choosing to embrace the awkward.

As weird as it is to share, feedback like this means a lot because it reminds me that good design is about much more than making something look nice. Yes, the visuals matter, but so does making the process easy. If working with me makes my clients' jobs a little easier, then that's just as important as the design itself.

01/08/2026

A little amaro to digest a big July... and preparing for whatever August has planned 🫣 I mentioned having some availability in August a few posts back, expecting the algorithm to ignore me.

BUT it’s been snapped up by a new annual report 🎉Maybe social media does work after all…. so if you’ve got a project in the wings, get in touch. I’m curious whether this was luck or a repeatable business model 😉

30/07/2026

It's that time of year again... annual report season 📊 One of the fun challenges with annual reports is that I'm usually working within an established brand. The colours are already chosen (usually, a limited palette). But that's where the creativity comes in! Mixing and matching those colours, using icons, and finding little ways to bring the pages to life while still staying true to the brand. This report I did for the Translational Research Institute is one example of how a limited colour palette can still feel vibrant, engaging and easy to read.

If annual report season has crept up on you and you're looking for a designer to help bring your report together, I've got a little more availability this year and would love to chat 💬

26/07/2026

I told myself I need to do things outside the office more this financial year, and it turns out the James Street Food and Wine Trail is on today. Got a lovely feed (Moreton Bag bug roll, $22… a little steep but I can’t say no to bugs!) and the official brochure as layout inspo for a project coming up this week. Play AND work ticked off my weekend list 😉

22/07/2026

One of the hardest part of magazine design? Knowing what NOT to add!

This spread for Venzin / The Bali Club magazine had to showcase a list of tour inclusions, which naturally meant using a lot of photos. The challenge wasn't fitting everything on the page, but to make sure it still felt easy to read. I used a fair bit of white space around the images, so the spread feels more inviting rather than overwhelming, and your eye naturally knows where to go next. Funny thing is, the more experience I get, the more I realise thoughtful design often comes down to restraint. Sometimes what's left out does just as much of the heavy lifting as what makes it in.

Address

Fortitude Valley, QLD

Website

http://www.paperanddesk.com/

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