Sixty Inches From Center is a worker-led organization and publication that amplifies and preserves the art, archives, and stories of underrepresented communities throughout the Midwest.
Sixty achieves its mission through various projects centered around archives, arts writing, and community-building efforts.
As Communications Lead and Digital Editor, Ry managed social media strategy, newsletters, digital publishing, website design, and the visual brand to amplify Sixty’s editorial work.
Logo design by Ry.
Scope of Work
Social Media Strategy
Developed a design system for sharing long-form articles through strategic pull-quotes. This design system became a lasting visual identity in use for 5+ years and has increased followers by 400%.
Editorial Partnerships
Organized and led the editorial partnership between Sixty and Art Design Chicago (Terra Foundation for American Art) for 3 years. Ry interviewed artists, created editorial short-form videos, and led a team of writers, illustrators, and photographers.
Newsletters
Designed, wrote, and managed newsletters to highlight editorial features, events, and partnerships.
Branding & Naming
Conceived project names and design systems for editorial and fundraising projects, including Find & Seek and Sixty Collective.
Digital Editing
Prepared and formatted articles in Wordpress, ensuring consistency, readability, and accuracy of layout and design before publication.
Photo: Aay Preston-Myint performing research at Leather Archives & Museum in Chicago. Photo by Ry.
Work Samples
Click images to expand.
Content creation for Instagram, including article features, pull-quotes, and Reels.
Newsletter content strategy, copywriting, editing, and design.
Editorial Collaboration: Sixty Inches From Center x Art Design Chicago Now
Project Overview Guide
Artist Video Interviews: Sixty Inches From Center x Art Design Chicago Now
Ry interviewed, transcribed, edited, and produced ten videos for the Art Design Chicago Now partnership.
Click to watch on Vimeo.
In order from left to right: 1) Andrea Carlson on her work connecting with Native communities, 2) Julia Arredondo on underground publishing and zine-making, 3) Candace Hunter on activism and cherishing communities, 4) Liz Mason on her personal zine-making practice and managing Quimby’s Bookstore
Find & Seek
Find & Seek, a fundraising initiative, takes inspiration from “missed connection” webpages and newspaper classifieds by inviting you to use Sixty’s platforms to find (re)connections or seek new connections somewhat anonymously.
Ry created the name Find & Seek, produced the graphic identity, and designed the webpage with Sixty’s web developer.
Diamond in the Back
Diamond in the Back was a two-year community archiving collaboration between Sixty and The Blackivists, a collective of trained Black archivists who prioritize Black cultural heritage preservation and memory work–a project supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Below are animated graphics for the project’s launch, produced by Ry.
Loss/Capture
Through a series of writings, conversations, and archive digs, this project explores and uplifts archives and collections that speak to Sixty’s communities, starting with a look into the state of Black cultural archives in and beyond Chicago.
Editorial project website by Ry.