ZINE: Research

Researching on Zine, Layouts, and Typography.

So a zine is…

And apparently are low costs production, about anything under the sun, so it can be made by anybody.

Pictures will tell us more on what a zine is:

http://www.hercampus.com/school/cal-poly/how-make-your-own-zine

I will just note that I love how sketchy most of them look, perhaps because they’re fan zine, and low cost.

Last last project, I reflected that I wanted to work on researching more on one artist. But from the last project, I figure that perhaps what I intended was to research more on a certain style instead of a certain artist. So more like, how many different artists create a certain kind of style. I guess this is what an art direction is and perhaps this was what I was lacking for my previous projects?

But this time, I am thinking of adapting a more sketchy style and I think I have a clearer art direction in mind for research and development as compared to the previous projects.

So lo and behold, all the sketchiness……… Love!

I also quite enjoy these color schemes where images are in black and white and a single color makes the design pop / more eye catching. Where the color was placed is probably important to ensure the whole design is balanced and the color is not overwhelming.

I also quite dig the white + single color, two toned designs. Along with the sketches, they are simple but still eye catching.

Self-Publishing Zine-Green Hill /自出版Zine《绿の山》 on Behance - created via https://pinthemall.net:

Little comics that I could perhaps consider?

Everything in its Time: Painted Prayers Reinterpreted by Serene Ng.:

^ This reminds me of church windows and Art Nouveau…? Which could be a possible style to explore as well.

Image result for nouveau art

Which is super pretty, like how modern art and vintage art are combined to come up with something so beautiful. I also love their use of colors. It also reminds me of works of some artist that I have been following:


But anyway, to be real, first of all, I don’t think I have the capacity to be able to illustrate this well. Second of all, I will probably need a bit of time even if I could. Third of all, if a zine is supposedly produced low cost, then I would much rather not do anything like that.

Perhaps I could explore some sketches with elements of Art Noveau? Like the thick lines and colors.

But okay, back to sketchy zines I’ve sieved out…

figuring you out: introduction | figuring you out, a imited edition zine by jordan grace owens A simple flap.

http://sophielecuyer.blogspot.fr/ Sophie Lecuyer - Bas les masques et haut les coeurs:

I like the colors, the weirdness, the distressed look, and overlaying.

Fragments d'un voyage on Editorial Design Served - created via https://pinthemall.net: Interesting way of using different paper and sizes to overlap. It’s almost as if saying, Berlin is made out of these things, together.

Perhaps I could do something similar that conveys, Kranji is made out of all these things. And have each of this thing color coded. For some reason the Windows logo came to mind.

Natalya Balnova / Silk screened book design - Principles of Jelly Making. http://www.designworklife.com/2014/04/17/alliteration-inspiration-jelly-journeying/:

I like this thing which i call ‘color offset’ where the color doesn’t go right into the lines but instead leave white shadows and exceed the line. It seems to give a more loose and sketchy effect and the whites convey highlights

Wayward Arts Magazine:

That wasn’t sketchy, but I liked the color scheme.

Grosse pluie | Screen printed book by Marion Jdanoff and Damien Tran:

Very sketchy like a kid’s drawing, and I love how there are still patterns involved. The sketchiness also seems to invoke a very textured feel even though the background is solid in color. The color scheme used is also quite outstanding.

Graphic Design Inspiration – Creative Mind, Useful Knowledge ... Having bits cut out to reveal more info:

Love this hole.

The following design is clearly graphical, but I really like the color schemes and the patterns. The colors explode and combine well together, is eye catching but not starking. The designs are also very readable and outstanding from far and I would imagine this to be important for a zine. Perhaps they are something I can explore doing in a sketchy style – which seems to be quite popular nowadays.

Write Sketch & | Super Collection | Notebooks Designed by Officemilano:

Natalya Balnova7:

Another white + color two toned design. But I feel like this one is much bolder and in your face. Whereas the designs above are gentler.

With this, I think I can break out to research on other things. The stuff with the same sketchy vibes, but in different mediums and not just on zines.

 

Concluding, these are some ideas that I could perhaps try exploring:
Black & White + 1 Color
Sketchy Style – related to the rural vibes of Kranji
Watercolor

Print out texture / patterns on paper and draw over
Paint acrylic wash (Graham Smith?? – To be researched)
Ink/Oil/Soap BG

Rural + Industrial Vibes:
Rusty + Vegetation?
Rust colors + Green?

Moving on to research on Layout:

Useful infographics that probably everyone else saw:

The Ultimate Guide to Font Pairing - https://designschool.canva.com/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-font-pairing/:

Infografia-para-conocer-sobre-tipografias.jpg (700×1946):

Guia ràpida de tipografia i fonts:

There is still much to be done but that is all for now!

Some actionables
– Find other sketchy styles that’s not zines.
– Start experimenting and sketching
– Perhaps can try and sketch on different printed textures
– Come up with a plan for layout

Published by

Shi Teng Wong

Galvanising unorthodox ideas is my anthem.

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