As mentioned in the previous post, I decided to change my idea once more, and settled for the overarching theme of Time – the end is always a start to new beginnings.

Before starting, I decided to plan my layout, to avoid making the same mistake as my previous idea, where I get stuck. I drew out the rough layout, to have my thoughts settled in place. 

While planning, I decided that it would be interesting to tell my story with a 2 way zine, where one get to read it both ways, since it is in a chronological order. Therefore, with this idea, I went for consultation with Mimi once more to get the green light. Below was the sketch showed to Mimi, during the consultation.

This sketch was drawn with reference to the murals that I came across at Telok Ayer. Everything drawn were the items or places that existed during 1920s – 1940s. I wanted to expand this page (2 & 3) alone till 1970s, and have page 4 & 5 to be of a digital image to show the passing of the older generation.

cr: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/417357090461581464/ 

I wanted page 5 & 6 to consist of traditional and modernity element, despite the usage of digital medium. I envision the image to be similar to the one above. However, after getting some feedbacks from my classmates and friends, they said that it did not translate the idea clearly. Mimi also said that it would be better if the zine was in a continuous chronological order, and not a sudden jump. Hence, I took the advice and decided to do it in a timeline order

Zine layout:

page 1 : cover

page 2 & 3: 1920s – 1940s

page 4 & 5: 1950s-1970s

page 6 & 7: 1980s – now

page 8: cover

I did some research on my zine layout and design too, and referenced mostly Chinese zines or product to learn how the idea of “chinese design” is being market, and used as packaging to identify itself.

cr: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/417357090461021829/

cr: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/417357090461587571/

cr: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/417357090461610440/

I came to realized that Chinese fonts are bold, with very little cursive. Colours are either extremely bright and striking, if not extremely down to earth tones. It is distinctive, and not loud.

As I have decided on using line drawings, as it would be completely different from my usual style of illustration, I referred to a few line drawing artists.  cr: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/23/andy-warhol-early-drawings-louisiana-museum_n_2529261.html

cr: http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/warhol-boy-with-flowers-ar00271

cr: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/551479916865796008/

cr: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/3307399702752371/

I wanted to see how human figures were drawn, and I noticed it was the shape that gives definition to it, not so much on expression. Hence, I decided to leave out the facial expression of my human figures and focus more on the definition of body line.

This was after more details were added, and a re-arrangements were made, to create the zine page 2 & 3. After settling on the design, I had to decide whether to add colours or not to the outline drawing. However, I felt that the lines itself created a background and foreground, and adding colours will be too much, but leaving it black and white will be too ugly. Hence, I added red patches to give it a little more life. This idea of using read its not only purposeful, but it helped to give some life and style to the zine.

The whole explanation of the final zine can be read in the next post, where I share more about my final piece.