1. Zines

Louisa Tsui, louscribble@gmail.com

All About Zines! - Project Deliverables:

Create Your Own Zine Assignment

About Zines: Zines are DIY, small press books published by individuals. They were originally folded photocopies used to spread information or special interests in a cheap and quick manner. Now, zines have become widespread in all sorts of formats that cover a wide variety of mediums such as illustration, comics, photography, poetry and so on.

You are to create printable zines for Laker Con hosted by the Mary Idema Pew Library on September 29 - October 1. The subject of the zine is entirely up to you, but please choose something you are passionate about or have a love to express.

You will be asked to discuss the subject you have chosen, and talk about how you’d like to promote this at Laker Con.

Zines can be delivered in various formats such as single folded copies, saddle-stitch, or hand-bonded. DIY is encouraged, and costs to produce zines should be kept at a minimal. Please utilize the resources you have at the university such as photocopiers, printers or local printing technicians.

If you decide to work in traditional means, please find a way to scan and produce copies for submission and for sale later at Laker Con.

Week One, Wednesday, Aug 30 - Introduction and Assignment Launch

Homework: Research! Take a look at some artists that produce their own zines, what is it that they want to say, how do they go about in making them for sale? What book format peeks your interest?

Please consider how your illustrations will look in the final folded format, avoid having illustrated elements get cut off from folding or stapling. Will you be incorporating text? Think about how you’d like the text to be part of the final layout.

         Students will create a pitch pack for their zines. In the package, please include 

         your zine topic, and ideas or loose sketches for the formatting. Upload to Google

         Wiki, by September 6.

Week Two, Wednesday, Sept 6 - Progress Check       

Homework: Mock-up and first-pass illustrations - After approvals of the direction of your zine, you will need to produce a rough mock-up of your zine with your illustrations. With this mock-up, please discuss how you’d like to go about create copies for sale.

         Please upload your mock-ups on Google Wiki for discussion, as well as

         keep a hand copy to show via Zoom conference by September 13.

Week Three, Wednesday, Sept 13 -  Progress Check - Rough illustration and zine assembly. Please bring a physical copy of your work in progress zine.

         Upload your rough zines to Google Wiki, in pdf format with the Bleed and Crop Marks

         showing. Also keep a hand copy for show via Zoom conference for show on September

         20.

Week Four, Wednesday, Sept 20 - Final Critique, as close as finished art as possible. Please bring a prototype copy of your zine. Please put your zine into production for Laker Con after this critique.

Sept 29 -  Laker Con!! - Have fun with your table spaces and enjoy the show! We will be looking at all your zines collectively at some point during the con.

Saddle Stitch Printing Guide via Indesign

Artist Resource List by Ashley Odell

Make Your Own Font

Lou's Zines!