Close up of Romance Journal Issue 02 cover, sculpture wrapped in netting on black background. Publication design, art direction, print design by RoAndCo. Close up of Romance Journal Issue 02 cover, sculpture wrapped in netting on black background. Publication design, art direction, print design by RoAndCo.

Romance Journal 02—Resistance

Romance Journal is a publication devoted to exploring universal truths and raising collective consciousness. In the midst of personal trials and global challenges, Issue 02: Resistance explores human experiences through the eyes of powerful female-identifying activists and creatives. The word resistance contains within it an incredible complexity —  it's both an immobilizing and a dynamic force, at once an active pursuit and a state of feeling. The spectrum of resistance is impossible to neatly define as it comes in many forms, both personal and as part of a larger movement.

  • Publication Design
  • Art Direction
  • Web Design
  • Print
  • Copywriting
  • Editorial Writing
  • Interviewing
Romance Journal Issue 02 Resistance interior spreads. Publication design, art direction, print design, edited by RoAndCo.Romance Journal Issue 02 Resistance interior spreads. Publication design, art direction, print design, edited by RoAndCo.
Still image of cinder block hanging over white calla lily flower for Romance Journal Issue 02 Resistance. Publication design, art direction, print design by RoAndCo.Still image of cinder block hanging over white calla lily flower for Romance Journal Issue 02 Resistance. Publication design, art direction, print design by RoAndCo.

Art Direction

Collaborating with photographers Alex John Beck and Samantha Casolari, we captured our subjects standing proud in their resistance. We also worked with photographer Scottie Cameron and prop stylist Sonia Rentsch to create metaphorical still-life imagery to reflect the complex array of emotions related to resistance.

Still life image of a pear bound in rope for Romance Journal Issue 02 Resistance. Publication design, art direction, print design by RoAndCo.Still life image of a pear bound in rope for Romance Journal Issue 02 Resistance. Publication design, art direction, print design by RoAndCo.
Still life image of upside down bust balancing on top of a broken egg. Romance Journal Issue 02 Resistance. Publication design, art direction, print design by RoAndCo.Still life image of upside down bust balancing on top of a broken egg. Romance Journal Issue 02 Resistance. Publication design, art direction, print design by RoAndCo.
Still life image of burning paper for Romance Journal Issue 02 resistance. Publication design, art direction, print design by RoAndCo. Still life image of burning paper for Romance Journal Issue 02 resistance. Publication design, art direction, print design by RoAndCo.
Sculpture in red netting for Romance Journal Issue 02 resistance. Publication design, art direction, print design by RoAndCo.Sculpture in red netting for Romance Journal Issue 02 resistance. Publication design, art direction, print design by RoAndCo.
White sculpture of man, broken, for Romance Journal Issue 02. Publication design, art direction, print design by RoAndCo.White sculpture of man, broken, for Romance Journal Issue 02. Publication design, art direction, print design by RoAndCo.
Still life image of various clear cups with one removed from the group and stained with a lipstick kiss for Romance Journal Issue 02 Resistance. Publication design, art direction, print design by RoAndCo.Still life image of various clear cups with one removed from the group and stained with a lipstick kiss for Romance Journal Issue 02 Resistance. Publication design, art direction, print design by RoAndCo.
Close up of interior cover, blue text on red background. We stand for peace, respect, equality and love. Make racism wrong again. Black power. Trans rights are human rights. Publication design, art direction, print design, edited by RoAndCo.Close up of interior cover, blue text on red background. We stand for peace, respect, equality and love. Make racism wrong again. Black power. Trans rights are human rights. Publication design, art direction, print design, edited by RoAndCo.

Featured Stories

Through intimate conversations, we focused on each woman's individual story and varied perspectives on politics, expression, and social responsibility, capturing their efforts to create change and shift the collective consciousness toward progress, equality, and justice. Notable conversations in this issue included activist and justice-seeker Carmen Perez, Refinery 29 co-founder Piera Gelardi, activist and performer Sarah Sophie Flicker, and activist musician Kiran Gandhi.

Activist and musician Kirian Gandhi portrait for Romance Journal Issue 02 Resistance. Publication design, art direction, print design, interviews by RoAndCo. Activist and musician Kirian Gandhi portrait for Romance Journal Issue 02 Resistance. Publication design, art direction, print design, interviews by RoAndCo.
The past is female, the present is female the future is female. I think the future is for all genders. I think the future is inclusive. The future is for everybody. Every damn body! – quote by Piera Gelardi, co-founder of Refinery29 for Romance Journal Issue 02 Resistance. Publication design, art direction, print design, interviews by RoAndCo. The past is female, the present is female the future is female. I think the future is for all genders. I think the future is inclusive. The future is for everybody. Every damn body! – quote by Piera Gelardi, co-founder of Refinery29 for Romance Journal Issue 02 Resistance. Publication design, art direction, print design, interviews by RoAndCo.
Founder and Editor-in-Cheir of MuslimGirl.com, Amani Al-Khatahtbeh portrait and spread for Romance Journal Issue 02 Resistance. Publication design, art direction, print design, interviews by RoAndCo. Founder and Editor-in-Cheir of MuslimGirl.com, Amani Al-Khatahtbeh portrait and spread for Romance Journal Issue 02 Resistance. Publication design, art direction, print design, interviews by RoAndCo.
Portrait of Petra for Romance Journal Issue 02. Publication design, art direction, print design, interviews by RoAndCo. Portrait of Petra for Romance Journal Issue 02. Publication design, art direction, print design, interviews by RoAndCo.
Portrait of Mila for Romance Journal Issue 02. Publication design, art direction, print design, interviews by RoAndCo. Portrait of Mila for Romance Journal Issue 02. Publication design, art direction, print design, interviews by RoAndCo.
Romance Journal issue 02 Resistance credits. RoAndCo Studio, Roanne Adams, Rebecca Angus Smith. Publication design, art direction, print design, interviews by RoAndCo. Romance Journal issue 02 Resistance credits. RoAndCo Studio, Roanne Adams, Rebecca Angus Smith. Publication design, art direction, print design, interviews by RoAndCo.
Profile black and white portrait of ShiShi Rose, community organizer and black wellness advocate for Romance Journal Issue 02 Resistance. Publication design, art direction, print design, interviews by RoAndCo. Profile black and white portrait of ShiShi Rose, community organizer and black wellness advocate for Romance Journal Issue 02 Resistance. Publication design, art direction, print design, interviews by RoAndCo.
Portrait of Carmen Perez, Woman's March organizer and activist for Romance Journal Issue 02 Resistance. Publication design, art direction, print design, interviews by RoAndCo. Portrait of Carmen Perez, Woman's March organizer and activist for Romance Journal Issue 02 Resistance. Publication design, art direction, print design, interviews by RoAndCo.
Portrait of raised fist, a sign of resistance, for Romance Journal Issue 02. Publication design, art direction, print design, interviews by RoAndCo. Portrait of raised fist, a sign of resistance, for Romance Journal Issue 02. Publication design, art direction, print design, interviews by RoAndCo.
Portrait of star tattoos on woman's wrist for Romance Journal Issue 02.. Publication design, art direction, print design, interviews by RoAndCo. Portrait of star tattoos on woman's wrist for Romance Journal Issue 02.. Publication design, art direction, print design, interviews by RoAndCo.

Ecommerce Website

The publication is available for purchase at select bookstores worldwide, as well as on the Romance Journal website, where 100% of the proceeds are donated to non-profit organizations.

Films

In collaboration with Tabitha Denholm — a filmmaker and the founder of the advocacy project Women Under the Influence — we created a series of films interpreting the topic of resistance. In addition to video interviews, we created a documentary on Gurls Talk founder Adwoa Aboah and her team, following them as they attended the inaugural Women's March on Washington D.C. on January 21, 2017. The film provides a look into the emotions, actions, and camaraderie of marchers on the historic day, which marked a milestone for the resistance movement.

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