Tagged: magazine

interactive/satirical magazine features

I researched into lighthearted and satirical magazine features to follow the fun, approachable tone I want FILLER to have. My main inspiration came from Bay Garnett’s Cheap Date magazine, which focuses on going against mainstream, mass-produced fashion and has a DIY zine feel. More recently, Mushpit magazine features satirical adverts and interactive elements such as quizzes and diagrams that comment on our contemporary society.

This made me want to take a lighthearted approach to other elements of trends I have observed. For example there is a youth trend in astrology and spirituality, with more and more young adults taking notice of horoscopes – Instagram alone is filled with “memes” dissecting our signs and how that explains our behaviour and personality traits. A popular app called Co-Star gives users daily astrological updates, and also allows you to add your friends so that you can view their natal charts and read in-depth compatibility results. So I created a satirical horoscopes feature in the zine, which turned knowledge of each star sign into lighthearted guidance on lifestyle and food habits, for example suggesting that Scorpios should “stop comparing your foodie Instagram pics to everyone else’s”.

The rise in “mindfulness” colouring books for adults’ mental health inspired me to create a “self-care must haves” colouring page, which used my personal illustration style to depict typical self-care products and behaviours for readers to colour in.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

My tutorial with Martha Harris yesterday encouraged me to think more about the desired aesthetics and design of my zine. As I am interested in exploring printing methods and book arts outside of my university studies we discussed print technique experimentations for example risograph and screen printing (or even creating that ‘look’ within the zine to resemble Xerox photocopied punk zines). Above is a call for submissions I posted across social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) , which we also discussed printing as a flyer or poster and distributing in shops and venues that target the same artistic or DIY scene that I am trying to attract.

I want to progress now by starting to look at layout and design inspiration, as well as possible paper stocks and colour as this will definitely influence the design of my magazine, and the way content appears or is presented.

zine and trend research

I researched and analysed the content and tone of existing alternative and independent publications I already admire, for example Mushpit which comments on contemporary society an attitudes in art, fashion and culture and focuses on satirical features and adverts, as well as more focused feminist zines such as Sister and Polyester which are full of contributors’ submissions around specific themes, aimed at creating a safe space for readers to express themselves away from the world of mass-produced, mainstream publications and media. I wanted to fill a gap in the market by finding a middle-ground – was it possible to create an independent publication that allowed readers to input their views, words and visuals while commenting on the attitudes, politics and lifestyles brands so often buy into and try to sell back to us?

I started to think about lifestyles and attitudes that are popular at the moment and that I had observed both online and in the world around me. I decided to focus my research on the surging trend in “self-care”, which many brands have very recently been using to invent and promote products which claim to help us look after ourselves, or become a better “you” – when really “self-care” is not something that can be bought with an expensive yoga mat, diet guide or silky pyjamas. An article published on online platform Girlboss brought these issues to light; titled “Selling Self-Care: The Awkward Perils Of Going Mainstream”, it commented on the capitalist issues surrounding this trend and how important behaviours for our physical and mental health can lose their meaning or importance when marketed as a fashion statement, or something that only the privileged can access.

brand identity and development with Teresa Havvas

T U T O R I A L :  T E R E S A  H A V V A S

My tutorial with brand consultant Teresa Havvas was particularly motivating and inspiring in thinking about what my project could become and where I want FILLER to go.

We discussed the existence of ‘feminist’ publications and decided to avoid categorising it as feminist/anti-fashion, and instead let it organically develop with things that inspire or interest me.

Feminist connotations I originally gave the word ‘filler’ can now also mean ‘filling’ the space in our heads/time. The publication could include powerful thinkpieces, not necessarily related to the ‘angry’ feminist discourse. We discussed the possibility of perhaps not putting out a call for submissions and instead focusing on the unknown, letting people be surprised by the content. Each issue could be a surprise in terms of theme, format, content and release date.

To progress with these ideas and allow my project to be a lot freer and organic in its development, I aim to take in everything around me that inspires me – visiting London to see more exhibitions as well as book stores to think about design, formatting and brand identity. I have a trip to Berlin coming up which will also be a great opportunity to collect inspiration (fashion, visual or otherwise) and allow me to collect research and ideas from different contexts and surroundings.

AD394: presentation

(notes from my presentation of work)PART 1: Activism in Fashion Communication

I initially researched into trends and forecasting using Trendtablet and Li Edelkoort’s anti-fashion manifesto. I wanted to investigate something I haven’t explored in previous projects, and a lot of my personal work outside of university, and my internship (at Hi Cacti, a cactus concept shop in Brighton) was based around botanicals, plants and wellbeing so I decided to explore this trend further, looking at the appreciation of plants in all areas of our lives and living in harmony with nature.

Continue reading →

F U T U R E R E S E A R C H

There are particular concepts, topics and artists I was not able to research in this module but that I definitely want to explore in my final major project:

Martha Harris’ presentation on typography in activism:

Martha Harris’ presentation on typography in political settings has inspired me to look at political/activist posters and the constructivist style of early revolution posters, continuing through to the punk era and how artists and musicians adopted these styles – limited colours (2-3), geometrics/Art Deco shapes. Also how designers such as Rodchenko and Lizzitsky had started to feature strong or working women in their imagery, which could translate well into my proposed project.

The punk era aimed to destroy bourgeois/middle class imagery and the groups such as the Sex Pistols in particular referenced Communist propaganda in their album artwork and posters.

I also intend to look at Linder Sterling and her work for Jon Savage’s Secret Public zine, which used collage, photography and type in a way that I am interested in recreating or experimenting with.

I also want to look into DIY activist merchandise e.g. handmade banners and placards as this relates to my research I’ve carried out into the issues of mass-produced merchandise, and how we could alternatively create our own, more personal and therefore powerful messages.

Barbara Kruger – Martha made an interesting point about how Kruger’s more current work is more commercial than her earlier pieces, perhaps more relevant to fashion communication – Does this blur the boundaries between political messages and capitalism? Is this intended?

Spare Rib zine 1972-1993 – After Martha mentioned this feminist zine I discovered that all issues are available to read online on the British Library – so I want to explore this further for ideas about content and self-designed/published books.

Further reading/booklist:

Andersson, Patrik; Steedman, Judith. “Inside magazines: Independent pop culture magazines.” (London: Thames & Hudson, 2002). Print.

Barnard, Malcolm. “Fashion as communication.” (London: Routledge, 2002). Print.

Duncombe, Stephen. “Notes from the underground: Zines and the politics of alternative culture.” (Bloomington, Ind.: Microcosm, 2008). Print.

Fawcett-Tang, Roger; O’Reilly, John. “Experimental formats: Books, brochures, catalogues.” (Crans-Près-Céligny; Hove: RotoVision, c2001). Print.

Fawcett-Tang, Roger. “Experimental formats 2: Books, brochures, catalogues.” (Mies; Hove: RotoVision, c2005). Print.

Glaser, Milton; Ilić, Mirko. “The design of dissent.” (Gloucester, Mass.: Rockport Publishers, c2005). Print.

Hack, Jefferson; Furniss, Jo-Ann. “Dazed and confused: Making it up as we go along: A visual history of the magazine that broke all the rules.” (New York: Rizzoli, 2011). Print.

Leslie, Jeremy. “Issues: New magazine culture.” (London: Laurence King, 2000). Print.

Leslie, Jeremy. “MagCulture: New magazine design.” (London: Laurence King, 2003). Print.

Piepmeier, Alison. “Girl zines: Making media, doing feminism.” (New York: New York University Press, 2009). Print.

Scott, Linda M. “Fresh lipstick: Redressing fashion and feminism.” (New York; Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006). Print.

F I L L E R magazine: media pack

As part of my outcome for part 2 of this module, as well as my statement of intent for my final major project I wanted to create an initial media pack for my intended publication, bringing together my research and ideas to create a document that can form the basis of my work next semester. This media pack for FILLER magazine demonstrates the outcome of my research and experimentation and how it has informed my ideas around my potential outcome. Although these ideas may change, this has allowed me to move forward with a clearer idea of where I want my FMP to go, with an outline of design, content and readership and what I will need to do to make this a reality.

Creating this media pack also allowed me to experiment with InDesign and layout more which I really enjoyed, as I want my work to focus more on creative typography and design, and ‘breaking the rules’ of graphic design.

Continue reading →

WEEK 4: tutorial and development of ideas

My tutorial with Martha Harris yesterday was particularly helpful in giving me confidence with my ideas and research so far. We discussed my in depth research into ‘feminist’ fashion brands/campaigns and the issues that arise with these, and my research into the characteristics and aesthetics of feminist zines, both of the Riot Grrrl era and contemporary DIY movement, including Bay Garnett’s Cheap Date magazine and its satirical content.

We also discussed how I am looking at ‘trigger’ words to create a strong title for the magazine and how this will help inform my typography and general design/aesthetics. For example the word ‘Filler’ could have sexual or surgical connotations as well as food or even design and speech meanings. I said I am particularly interested in exploring other methods of printing to give a contemporary take on the early Xerox photocopied zines, and as I have used risograph printing before in personal work I hope to explore methods such as these further in my FMP.

Martha helped me think about ideas for content, and having themed issues but also regular features, and how I want to ask for submissions or collaborate to ensure a range of content.

We also discussed the idea of tear-out/pull-out elements and ‘treats’, such as a centrefold poster or other perforated pages, which will add to the experimental and fun visual identity I want the magazine to have.

She suggested I look at Linder Sterling and Jon Savage’s Secret Public fanzine as well as album artwork by Nirvana and the Vaselines to inform my image-making.

I now feel confident to progress with solidifying my ideas for my intended publication and how I can experiment and push boundaries with my design and image-making as I move into my FMP and writing my statement of intent. I also took a lot away from her presentation on political poster typography and design, and graphics from the punk era, which will help to broaden my research.

trekstock 2018 campaign: evaluation

My proposal for Trekstock’s 2018 fundraising strategy aimed to develop their work around mental wellbeing in relation to improving physical health. I wanted to elaborate on their “Wellbeing” section on their website by creating a publication promoting these ideas in a friendly, accessible but also artistic and involving way. My campaign proposal was TAKE CARE, consisting of an interactive, activities based zine that would kickstart a self-care movement, increasing awareness of Trekstock’s values and building a supportive community online.

Continue reading →

printing and illustration methods

I used a variety of image-making methods to make sure there was diversity throughout the zine, very often using hand-drawn illustration and adding colour on Illustrator, as well as scanning in hand-drawn illustrations and typography to create a DIY or diary look. I also used lino-printing to add texture, but edited colours to create a stamp-like effect. Overall, by combining digital and analogue methods I managed to create interesting, diverse spreads which created a collaged, scrapbook look.