Project Pdf:
Final Zine:
Process:
Project guidelines: Using InDesign, make an 8+ page zine that acts as an introduction or a guidebook to a subject of your interest. The zine can be in any style that demonstrates understanding of the principles of layout, composition, and information hierarchy: magazine, field guide, IKEA instructional manual, etc. Print and bind the zine.
For my zine, I wanted to curate a collection of images surrounding the theme of tide pools in my hometown of San Diego. I grew up going to these tide pools and discovering the many animals and plants that live in these pools. I also wanted the zine to be reminiscent of an instruction book that I would have read as a child. I used some of my own images as well as some from https://lajollamom.com/la-jolla-tide-pools/ because I did not have enough to create a full zine. I used text from https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2020/02/25/tide-pools/ and https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/tide-pool.html.
I started off by choosing my images as well as an overall color palette and editing them in photoshop, I then chose a font and started putting the zine together. I wanted my zine to look at how the tides do in real life: gritty, surreal, moldy, wet, colorful etc. I think this project helped me gain a greater understanding of InDesign. Before making this zine, I had trouble understanding how to navigate the software but through this project, I taught myself a lot about digital layout design. I wanted to lay out my zine in a poetic way, not having anything be too overpowering, and having the text act as a sort of image and equal part of the layout.
The main problem I ran into when creating the zine was during the production of the physical copy. I printed in the design lab on campus using a laser printer, and the colors and layout did not fully translate into my physical copy. If I had to redo the printing process, I would probably have to change the bleed/margin printing settings and use a different printer. I also ran into problems when trying to trim the edges, the paper cutter I used was not very good which led to some type being cut off of a few pages.
I am very proud of my work on this project and the topic holds sentimental value to me. The initial idea I had for the colors and graphics was translated into my final piece. I would love to maybe change some of the text and re-print it to have this be a great portfolio piece.