Sprung Formal is a literary arts journal published annually by the Kansas City Art Institute, where graphic design students operate as the design studio and collaborate closely with an editorial team comprised of students from the liberal arts department. First launched in 2005 as a class project in a magazine history course, the publication has since evolved into a professional-grade journal that showcases both student creativity and editorial rigor all within a single semester.
The 2025 edition, themed “Dinner Party,” invites readers into a shared space that’s casual, celebratory, and rich with diverse voices, just like the event it’s named after. The students behind this issue carefully managed every detail, including the paper choice (Cougar Digital Color Copy for the interior pages) that helped bring their work to life.
Sprung Formal continues to be a model for real-world planning, process, and collaboration between writers, editors, and designers, using the creation of a piece to help students develop real-world skills and be better prepared for their careers.
Check out our blog to learn more about the history of Sprung Formal.
