Zine
A Zine is a magazine-like publication usually made by a smaller group of people or an individual and often times it covers one topic. For this project, we had to make a completely original Zine, including the writing, illustration, photography, everything. We were given the topic to write about, which was the Covid-19 pandemic and my own personal experience with it. This was quite the project to tackle, but I had so much fun with it and I am so happy with the final design.
Flat Clean Digital Reader Spreads
Being able to be in complete control of every aspect of this Zine was intimidating at first, but I found I actually really love designing layouts. It was a blast to make this project exactly how I wanted it to look (with the added specifications from class). I had trouble with printing the final product (a common occurrence this semester unfortunately) so the spreads below are a more accurate representation of what I designed, but overall I’m very happy with how this whole project turned out, I learned a lot.
Research & Brainstorming
Research and brainstorming is one of the most important stages of the designing processes, and I probably could have done more but even what I did do helped so much. It helped to get my ideas written down so I could organize them and decide what to do, and then being able to find examples and ideas in the world around me was very inspiring. It helped me know the feel and look I wanted for my Zine.
Sketches & Doodles
This is another stage I feel like I could have done more with, but it still really helped in me seeing how my first ideas would look on paper so I could know for sure how I wanted to proceed. I quickly figured out the look I wanted, and then I was able to figure out how I wanted the whole Zine folded and set up early so I didn’t have to figure it out later on. This also helped me know how the layout would look.
Story Outline
One thing that was different about this project was that we got to tell our own story, and it would cover multiple pages. So it was very important to figure out what we wanted to say early on. I didn’t write out every page right away, but I wrote down my ideas and narrowed down what story I wanted to tell. I love writing so it was fun to put that interest to work.
Initial Dummy
This is where I could first figure one in full scale how I wanted the Zine organized and put together. I end up going forward with a different binding style, but that was part of the process! This helped me see the initial size of everything so I could decide on the margins, columns, title sized and more. It was fun to see how this project could look.
Thumbnail Reader Spreads
This step I had a blast with, it was nice to be able to get my design all put together and laid out so I could see what it may look like. I could figure out if I had any patterns I could emphasize and and if the pages looked well in the layout I has them in. I’m proud of the detail I got even in small size and it helped me know what I wanted as I continued onto the next steps.
Intermediate Reader Spreads
Now I was able to take the small spreads and create them in larger scale, closer to the actual size so I could utilize the space well while still easily being able to make the changes I needed. I also started using markers at this point and that enabled me to put shades into the design, so I could get a better idea of the balance and look of everything. Things aren’t set in stone yet, but we’re getting there.
Intermediate Dummy
One of the things I found out with this project is that reader spreads and the actual dummies can me things look really different! So it’s important to look at both, so you can also see what the design will actually look like when all put together. I didn’t always put the dummies together very well, but it still helped me see the size and spacing of everything, so I could figure out what needed to be smaller or other changes I need to make.
Final Hand Reader Spreads
This is where things really started to be set in stone, and I was making final decisions of that design and layout I wanted before I moved on to the computer work. So I tried to be more careful with my sketching of the design elements and measure things out correctly so I could know for sure what everything looked like. This would help me in future steps to not do as much work there.
Final Hand Dummy
And of course, you have to make sure everything looks good in the actual folding and binding you’re going to be doing. I loved these steps, it was fun to put it all together and see it becoming an actual Zine. Checking the spacing and set up was easier this way, and I could make sue everything looked how I wanted.
Initial B&W Computer Progressions
Now it was time to start doing the computer work. I love this part, I love how easy things are to edit with a computer and it starts to look really nice and clean. It also helps to really help with the margins and layout, making it easy to make sure every page matches. And it’s important to have the design in B&W first so you’re focusing on the whole lay out instead of just the color. Then you’re able to print out certain pages so you can see it physically and make changes from there.
B&W Computer Reader Spreads
These still aren’t the final looks I settle on, but it was so nice to have it all set up and looking nice. This was a huge step and one that helped me start enjoying the whole process, because I got to see it coming together and looking as nice as I hoped it would. And now that this step helped solidify the overall general layout, it was easy to add additional elements.
B&W Computer Dummy
And then of course, it’s even more helpful to see the layout in the booklet form. I once again could make sure everything looked good in the actual set up it was going in.
Color Studies & Applications
This part was so fun! Adding color is very exciting once you have everything else in place and I enjoyed being able to create and then print to see what colors would look the best. I had a color scheme in mind from my researching at the beginning, but now it was time to determined what colors went where and almost most importantly, what color the pages were going to be. This really helped start pull things together to make it look nice and professional.
Color Computer Dummy
Once my colors were decided, it was time to print it out and put it together in booklet form once again. I decided to try it on a paper that I may print the final version on so I could accurately see what the colors would look like. This was one of the most exciting steps, I could really see the whole project coming together into something nice and I was so happy with things were turning out.
