Samba is a magazine that reveals and explores the various facets of the Brazilian culture. The main challenge was to create and develop a magazine that would appeal to its target audience, showing important aspects of this culture that could be understood not only through the articles, but also through the intelligent use of images.
The feature story talks about the makeshift culture in Brazil known locally as “gambiarra.” It is the ability to come up with quick solutions for problems of the everyday life. The following images show two solutions: typographic and photographic.
Photographic approach
This solution uses a makeshift soccer ball to explain the article. The images show a soccer player interacting with a tape ball that is not the ideal, but still can perform well enough to provide a momentary solution. The photographs also focus on the relationship between the player and the ball, indicating the ability and mastery that he has over it. It creates a very optimistic atmosphere, with saturated tones that continues to communicate how this practice is embraced and valued in Brazil. Lastly, the type treatment of the headline and pull quotes were inspired by the pattern and texture of the tape ball.
Typographic approach
The typographic solution uses twigs to create the word “gambiarra,” displaying not only the word, but also indicating the simplicity of the solution and how it was made out of found elements that could have been easily ignored.
