Digital magazine template

This template is designed for editorial and sponsored content teams across media, brands, universities, and nonprofits, who want to publish a single issue that feels like a premium magazine — designed for the web.

Whether you’re launching a special edition, producing a branded magazine, or creating an editorial-led campaign, it gives you a polished starting point you can shape to suit your audience.

A digital magazine should feel immersive, modern, and made for scrolling — not like a PDF replica. This template helps you create a fully-responsive magazine issue that’s designed to be read online, with strong layout, clear hierarchy, and space for visual storytelling.

It also makes it easier to publish consistently: the structure is already in place, so you can focus on the edit, the visuals, and the experience — not starting from scratch.

Yes — the template is free to use with Shorthand. Sign up for an account now with no credit card required, then add your own text, media, and styles. You only move to a paid plan when you’re ready to publish.

Once live, your issue is published to your website or Shorthand-managed hosting — easy to share, easy to update, and simple to reuse for your next issue.

Web-native magazines are designed for how people actually read online. They load quickly, adapt to any screen size, and support rich media like full-width imagery, video, audio, and interactive elements.

That makes your stories easier to consume and more engaging to explore. They’re also easier to share and update than static files — helping a single issue keep working long after launch.

With your content ready, many teams can build a single issue in a few hours.

The template removes layout and design guesswork, so you can focus on shaping the story, sequencing sections, and creating an experience that feels intentional from start to finish.

A strong issue balances structure and surprise: a striking cover moment, clear sections, and a mix of feature storytelling and shorter pieces that keep the pace moving.

Visuals matter just as much as words — strong photography, pull quotes, galleries, and media-rich moments help readers stay immersed and make the issue feel truly finished.

Start with a strong opening — then guide readers with clear headings, scannable sections, and a rhythm between text and visuals. Pull quotes, media breaks, and section dividers help people stay oriented as they scroll.

Navigation also plays an important role in longer digital issues. Elements like a top navigation bar for jumping between sections, or a reading progress indicator that shows how far readers have travelled, make the experience easier to explore and more satisfying to move through.

Together, those cues create a smoother experience — whether you’re publishing a single long feature, a multi-story issue, or a themed collection of articles.

Open the digital magazine template in the Shorthand editor, then replace the placeholder content with your own stories, visuals, and media. Customise logos, fonts, colours, and layout to match your masthead. Create a free account to save your work.