CoolDad Magazine (Portfolio: Process for CoolDad)

A Little Embolden Book
CLASSIC
THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO
COOLDAD
MAGAZINE
BY LOIS KAMANDULIS

This Little Embolden Book
is dedicated to:

A Little Embolden Book
ORLANDO, FLORIDA
May this Little Embolden Book and series magically
embolden YOU to follow your Personal Treasure* with
bravery, whole-heartedness, joy and a sense of humor.
THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO
COOLDAD
MAGAZINE
Copyright © 2018 Lois Kamandulis, Little Embolden Books.
All rights reserved.
BY LOIS KAMANDULIS
Published in the United States by Lois Kamandulis (with the generous
help of an insane number of faculty and staff at the Valencia College
Graphics Department, both East and West Campuses).
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above,
absolutely no (NONE-NADA-ZIPPO) of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, telepathic, or
otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright
owner of this book and series. And that is that. Not even if you woo
me with tacos from Tortas el Rey or puppies or a free trip to Hawaii.
The answer is still (probably) NO.
For additional works you might find slightly interesting by this same
designer, check out loiskamandulis.com.
*From “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho

cool
/kool/
adjective
1. of or at a fairly low temperature.
“It’ll be a cool afternoon.”
synonyms: chilly, chill, cold, bracing, brisk, crisp,
fresh, invigorating, nippy,
“a cool breeze”
2. fashionably attractive or impressive
“I always read CoolDad to look cool.”
synonyms: fashionable, stylish, chic, up-to-theminute,
sophisticated, badass
dad
/dad/
noun
noun: dad; plural noun: dads
one’s father
“his dad just drop-kicked that guy in the face”
Origin: English;
mid-16th century: perhaps imitative of a young
child’s first syllables da, da

IT’S ABOUT DAMN
DAD TIME.
Featured on left: Closeup
of the chosen cover
design for the magazine.
Here, the joy of fatherhood
is front and center
— but features an atypical
adult male as “Dad;” Spiky
hair, tats and a unembarrassed
affection for his
son, this dad epitomizes
the CoolDad attitude:
pure joy in fatherhood,
sans the khakis and
collared shirts of our dads
(and grandads) of past.
COOLDAD
Lifestyle & Parenting Magazine
CoolDad Magazine seeks to support and appeal to the modern,
Millenial Dad: A man keen on maintaining his identity, yet
sensitive to his role as a parent and role-model to his growing
kids. With humor, candor and lots of Dad jokes and beer references,
CoolDad not only offers tips on parenting, but features
stylish men, of all alternative lifestyles and preferences.
So sit back, relax, crack open a cold one, and enjoy this peak
into the making of CoolDad Magazine.
LOIS KAMANDULIS

ONCE UPON A TIME…
Igave birth to a magazine inspired
by the joys of pregnancy...
for men. It was my baby,
andalthough I knew nothing of parenting
firsthand (not anything about
being a man, let alone a father), I set
off to create a magazine targeted
towards the new Millennial Dad.
May you feel as blessed as I did on
this journey into the birthing of my
sweet baby, CoolDad Magazine.
LOVE,
COOLDAD 4

Little Embolden Books
PROCESS
RESEARCH/INSPO
• A mix of Renaissance Man, hipster, hip hop, hilarity.
• Alternative lifestyles, tribte to dads-of-past, and joy in
fatherhood and all its adventures
The Original CoolDad
Donald A. Kamandulis (Lois’ Pops)

COOLDAD 6
TH

Little Embolden Books
E COVER
ITERATIONS
FINAL
LOIS KAMANDULIS

PROCESS
COVER ITERATIONS
HE
BABE Life
NEW DADS OLD DADS COOL DADS
SHORT
SHORTS +
Your son
Doodads for
Cool Dads:
Hot new toys
MILLENIALS:
Happiness = Fatherhood
The Original
Hipsters
Parenting,
Identity +
your minutes
The
YAKUZA
COOLDADMag
NEW DADS OLD DADS COOL DADS
DOODADS
forCOOL DADS
The latest
in gadgets
For
MILLENIAL MEN:
Happiness =
Fatherhood
New research on why your life
is better as a dad
Inside the
YAKUZA
Babe
NEW DADS OLD
Life
DADS COOL DADS
SHORT
SHORTS
+Your son
Doodads for
Cool Dads:
Hot new toys
MILLENIALS:
Happiness =
Fatherhood
You,
Your
Identity
+
Your time
SHORT
SHORTS
AND YOUR SON
Eatingyour
baby’s
Face
20TASTY RECIPES
for dads on-the-go
The Original
Hipsters
Parenting,
Identity +
Your minutes
The
YAKUZA
Spring 2018
Spring 2018
The
ORIGINAL
HIPSTERS:
YOUR PARENTS
SPRING 2018
This image stood out immediately as a strong front cover. Initially, a minimalistic
approach was more appealing (top left), but color & article titles were still explored.
An alternative image of a tattoed father.
COOLDAD 8

Y, BEBE ‘
NEW DADS OLD DADS COOL DADS
BabeLife
NEW DADS OLD DADS COOL DADS
BABELIFE
NEW DADS OLD DADS COOL DADS
SHORT
SHORTS +
Your son
6
Doodads for
Cool Dads:
Hot new toys
8
MILLENIALS:
Happiness =
Fatherhood
10
SHORT
SHORTS
+Your son
Doodads for
Cool Dads:
Hot new toys
MILLENIALS:
Happiness =
Fatherhood
The Original
Hipsters
SHORT
SHORTS
+Your son
Doodads for
Cool Dads:
Hot new toys
The real
BOSS BABIES:
AND WHY YOU’LL NEVER WIN
The Original
Hipsters
The Original
Hipsters
16
Parenting,
Identity +
your minutes
18
Parenting, Identity
+ Your minutes
The
YAKUZA
Parenting, Identity
+ Your minutes
The
YAKUZA
SPRING 2018
The
YAKUZA
20
SPRING 2018
SPRING 2018
Dynamic and fun image; but perhaps better-
suited inside the magazine.
Play on type treatments.
IN LOVE with the image; well-matched for the
title, but low resolution.
The original title was “BABElife.” However, after polling a variety of
people (the majority being men), “COOLDad” was deemed more
appropriate, and less sexy-lady-confusing.

THE JOURNEY CO
The final design
included the
strongest image
encapsulating the
“CoolDad” vibe,
and highlighted the
feature story and
sub-articles via a
clean, modern hierarchical
structure.
FINAL
COVER DESIGN
Strong, simple sans-serif title (Avenir);
simple tagline; minimalistic approach.
Scan the QR code to see the magazine in full.
COOLDAD 10

NTINUES…

THE ADS
3-AD CAMPAIGN
ORIGINAL INSPO + PROCESS FINAL
ORIGINAL PRODUCT
ORIGINAL INSPO + PROCESS FINAL
HOUSE ADS
INSPO
FINAL DESIGNS

Little Embolden Books
LOIS KAMANDULIS

3-AD CAMPAIGN
A 3-Ad campaign was created in order
to redesign any current ad targeted
towards the readership.
This original ad on child safety
screamed for a hilarious intervention.
And so it began...
HE
PA
ORIGINAL
PROCESS
AD RE-DESIGNS: 3-A
COOLDAD 14

Little Embolden Books
INSPIRATION
POTENTIAL DIRECTIONS
Y,
PI
D CAMPAIGN
Luckily, designer Stephen Crowley already
created a wealth of hilariously dangerous
scenes with his young daughter. A few
were chosen to expand upon the idea
of “child safety.”
LOIS KAMANDULIS

3-AD CAMPAIGN
Humor/hilarity is one of the key tenets of the CoolDad code
of conduct. Thus, it was only fitting that an ad campaign
about child safety drove the idea home via the most absurdly
ridiculous imagery possible.
Parenting doesn’t come with a handbook.
These three images were chosen based on their description
of danger; all simple tasks befitting daily life, but with clearly
a sense of reason missing. All three employ the same gray
background blocks of color, type treatments, and taglines.
The only variance (aside from the images) is the small subtagline,
“FOR GOD’S SAKES MAN, DON’T DO IT ALONE.” —
Each employ the exclamatory opening, but the ending varies
slightly, depending on the scene.
Eye-catching. Hilarious. Engaging.
(and probably Easy-to-Identify-With)
(because we’ve all done stupid things to/with our kids).
FINAL
3-AD CAMPAIGN
But we’ve got the chapter on safety.
There’s help where you need it.
i.e. FOR GOD’S SAKES MAN, DON’T DO IT ALONE.
Learn more at www.safekids.org
SAFE
K DS
WORLDWIDE
safekids.org
COOLDAD 16

Little Embolden Books
Parenting doesn’t come
with a handbook.
Parenting doesn’t come with a handbook.
But we’ve got the chapter on safety.
FOR GOD’S SAKES MAN, LEARN MORE at www.safekids.org
SAFE
K DS
WORLDWIDE
But we’ve got the chapter on safety.
There’s help where you need it.
i.e. FOR GOD’S SAKES MAN, BABIES CAN’T DRIVE.
Learn more at www.safekids.org
SAFE
K DS
WORLDWIDE
safekids.org
safekids.org
LOIS KAMANDULIS

IT’S ABOUT DA
ORIGINAL
PRODUCT ADS
DAD
COOLDAD 18
TIME.

Little Embolden Books
MN
LOIS KAMANDULIS

ORIGINAL PRODUCT
ORIGINAL
Premium Children’s Bath Products
InDaTub Children’s Bath Products hail
from an original concept celebrating
alternative, urban and hip hop cultures.
Hence, a PERFECT fit for CoolDads.
The task focused on creating fullpage
magazine ads that would pull out some
of the humor already present in the
product title word-play on hip hop
artist, 50 Cent’s song “In Da Club.”
PROCESS
AD RE-DESIGNS: 3-AD CAMPAIGN
COOLDAD 20

Little Embolden Books
ADS
INSPIRATION
POTENTIONAL DIRECTIONS
In keeping with the alternative,
tough, urban setting of “In Da
Club” the use of tattoos was
especially appealing.
From biker babies, to yakuza
tots, there was much to draw
from in terms of inspiration.
LOIS KAMANDULIS

ORIGINAL PRODUCT
FINAL
ORIGINAL PRODUCT ADS
“Tub Life” seemed a
fitting, more playful
and kid-friendly wordplay
on deceased
rapper Tupac Shakur’s
“Thug Life” tattoos.
Showcasing the
products, as well as
emphasizing the logo
ensures the relevancy
of the product. The
humorous and sweet
imagery of the babies
tattoed as if adults
immediately catches
the readers’ attention.
B
COOLDAD 22

Little Embolden Books
ADS
OOTY DUTY
SO FRESH
KEEPIN’ THINGS
AND SO CLEAN

COOLDAD 24

Little Embolden Books
GRAMPS=
CHAMPS
HOUSE ADS
LOIS KAMANDULIS

HOUSE ADS
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS
INSPIRATION
POTENTIAL DIRECTIONS
To increase interest in
the otherwise simple
layout for the digital
subscription to the
magazine, the idea of
tattoos appealed as an
underlying texture.
COOLDAD 26

Little Embolden Books
FINAL
HOUSE AD: DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS
DAD
TIME=
Thus, “Dad” tattoo-
textures, similar in style
RAD
TIME
as the “Sailor Jerry” tattoo-work
were created.
The stylization was and
still is popular amongst
many inked-up men and
women, and adds just a
touch of sophistication
and interest, in keeping
with the alterntive lifestyle-theme
of CoolDad
Magazine.
LOIS KAMANDULIS

HOUSE ADS
EVENT PROMO
Actor Idris Elba seemed
only befitting for this
special black-tie event
INSPIRATION
POTENTIAL DIRECTIONS
COOLDAD 28

Little Embolden Books
FINAL
HOUSE AD:
EVENT PROMO
The final layout utilizes a stark black
and white closeup image of Idris, with a
strong pop of fun color.
The pink (otherwise oft-associated with
feminity) is reclaimed within this image
as one of sophistication and heart.
LOIS KAMANDULIS

THE FEATU
ITERATIONS
FINAL
COOLDAD 30

Little Embolden Books
RE
LOIS KAMANDULIS

PROCESS
FEATURE ITERATIONS
4 iterations on the feature spread. Originally considered a different
article entirely, with a variety of interpretations.
COOLDAD 32

Little Embolden Books
FINAL
FEATURE SPREAD
Although some may frown upon re-using
the same image as the cover, the nowcolorized
version still adds enough contrast,
while remaining clearly identifiable as the
feature story of this month’s issue.
LOIS KAMANDULIS

EVE

AND THEY LIVED
HAPPILY
R AFTER
And thus ends a glimpse into the making of some of the
key elements of CoolDad Magazine. Check out this issue
in its entirety by scanning the QR code to the left. And
keep those dad jokes comin,’ Pops. It’s your job now.

ABOUT THE
DESIGNER
Someday, Lois Kamandulis will be as cool as she
once was in this image. Until then, she likes to
cook and eat Korean and other ethnic foods,
sleep, and watch magic tricks performed by her husband,
Jimmy.
Her past lives include teaching 1st grade, 2nd grade and
elementary art in the Mississippi Delta, teaching English
in Madrid and hanging out with Tibetan monks through
a study-abroad program in Nepal.
She loves art and laughing at her own jokes, and often
gifts the book, “The Alchemist,” while encouraging all to
go after their own personal treasures.
Her celebrity crushes include the Dalai Lama and
Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
NOT PICTURED:
the nip-slip in
the rest of this
image. (See back
of resume.)
COOLDAD 36

Little Embolden Heroes
HOW MANY OF THESE
SHOULD LOIS THANK?
Jimmy Ichihana
Mama Bo Kamandulis
The Late, Great Donald
Kamandulis (Dad)
Rob & Anne Ichihana
Meg Curtiss
Jason Jones
John Sousa
Kristy Pennino
Andy Hamer
Jason Ellison
Sarah Siddiqui
Khan Mai
Jeff Janelle
Kevin Boyton
Cliff Manspeaker
Amanda Kern
Jason Hurst
Arli Oráa
Dennis Santspree
Lawrence Sibblis
Hunter Bustamonte
Taylor Chastain
Breanna “BG” Glisson
Marisa “Kuro” Punnapop
Jojo Sobrepeña
Dad-jokes, Dad-bods
and all CoolDads
across the universe
YEP. ALL OF EM’!
THANKS A BAJILLION!
AND BE SURE TO CHECK OUT ALL THESE OTHER FAB
Little Embolden Book
• 20,000 Leagues InDaTub
• A Long Day’s Jourmey into
Those Savage Beasts
• Teach for India in 80 Days (or less)
EDITIONS:
• Love in the Time of Orlando Strong
• The Brief Wondrous Life of
Think-A-Thon 2018
• The Unbearable Lightness of First Gear

A BAJILLION
THERE ARE OVER
Little Embolden Books
TO SHARE.
(BUT HERE ARE ONLY 7 OF THEM.)
ISBN 9781781102459
59999 >
HOW MANY HAVE
YOU READ?
Check them all out online + even more cool stuff at
loiskamandulis.com
9 781781 102459