Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg (Ruperto Carola) is Germany’s oldest university and an important research center. »Ruperto Carola« research magazine is published twice each year. Each issue focuses on a specific sociopolitical topic. Articles by Heidelberg researchers in various departments show the university’s diverse work.

The design and concept of University of Heidelberg’s research magazine »Ruperto Carola« was updated as part of the institution’s corporate design relaunch.

Academics from the University of Heidelberg explore the main topics for each issue in the context of their respective disciplines.
The University of Heidelberg’s half-yearly research magazine, »Ruperto Carola«, has become the university’s leading publication. Each issue investigates a pair of topics relevant to society today. The university’s slogan »The future since 1386« provides the inspiration for the opposites, which shape the magazine’s content and design.

Issue no. 6 examines the opposites »Healthy & Sick«. What exactly does it mean to be healthy? How do we define sickness? The publication’s cover questions our subjective idea of what the terms »Healthy & Sick« mean. The naturally grown tomato on the cover doesn’t look like a healthy one to us. In contrast, the perfect-looking tomato that corresponds to marketing standards in the inside appears to be fresh and healthy.

The seventh issue is dedicated to »Shadows & Light«. Light is the source of life and essential to discovery, but too much of it can be damaging. Light and darkness are also important metaphors that shape our interpretations of history and religion. The closed camera lens on the cover is complemented by the open one inside, which casts bright light on the research subject.

»Ruperto Carola« research magazines have won numerous national and international awards.

The magazine’s popularity, the overwhelming media response and improved advertising sales made it possible to refinance the publication.