Project Brief
The Client
The client for this project is Flow Magazine, whereby my project will come as an additional bonus when a customer purchases their magazine, and can also be bought individually at their online store, as well independently sold by myself as a promotional item for their brand.
Flow Magazine is a Dutch company that focuses on mindfulness, psychology, creativity and aims to showcase the beauty of imperfection through their monthly releases. Flow are known to use their company as a platform for illustrators and other creatives to showcase their work through their magazines, monthly bonus gifts and online store. They claim to be a company that is of “...unhurried time, all about doing things differently and making new choices. Small happiness, daily life and the beauty of not always managing to be perfect.” (Flow Magazine, 2017).
From this quote alone, I was convinced that Flow Magazine would be an excellent client for this project as the fundamental principles of their company has a huge relevance to my work - as evident in the coherent theme of finding the beauty in our everyday, mindfulness and necessary rest within this project, which thoroughly reflects the beliefs of Flow.
Objective / Goal
Mundane Magic will be released as a zine, accompanying a monthly issue of Flow Magazine, whereby the theme of the month will be focused on the notion of “rest”. This theme ties in the relationship between Flow and the zine, as it will encapsulate the beauty and necessity of rest and idleness within our lives and will capture the charm in the idle moments between our loud, and busy lives. Through this, Flow will be able to communicate the need for rest in the lives of their readers and will urge a greater appreciation for quiet moments of emptiness in a world that glorifies the notion of a full and busy schedule, promoting a healthier wellbeing.
Flow stands differently from other magazine brands as while their focus is primarily on promoting healthy psychology, mindfulness and wellbeing, they project this in a creative, lighthearted and charming manner by collaborating with other creatives, approaching these topics that gives the reader a greater likelihood of being invested and interested in due to the visual appeal it offers, while simultaneously creating a platform for individual designers and artists.
Thus, while society is surrounded by the world’s romanticism of perpetual productivity, through the merge between Flow’s promotion for peaceful mindfulness and the zine’s youthful and playful appeal, young people will be able to flip through and take a short moment to resonate with the quirky moments of the everyday and to appreciate the peaceful charm that it reflects. And through this, Flow will be benefited with a true reflection of their brand and what they stand for, as well as a brand promotion through the sales of the zine that I make independently.
Target Market / Demographic
The demographic for Flow is generally (yet not restricted to) women between the ages 18-30, thus these will be the people that will be reached with most ease.
Additionally, typically zines appeal most to those who possess an appreciation for illustration and design, therefore Mundane Magic may have a greater popularity among the those involved within the creative realm.
However, the general mood of my project is quite whimsical and playful and doesn’t aim to be crude or offensive in any way, thus anyone can enjoy Mundane Magic in all its lightheartedness. In fact, the target market should aim to appeal to anyone of the everyday world, by which the zine aims to capture universal moments that resonate with their own routines of the everyday, creating a personal link between the reader and the zine.
Everyone is has busy days and so everyone should be reminded of the necessity of rest.
Deliverables
MUNDANE MAGIC, 2017
Illustrated narrative accompanied by short captioned copy /
16 pages (including front and back) /
Accompanied by riso-printed sleeve /
A5 [148 x 210 mm] /
200GSM matte paperstock /
Saddle-Sewn /
Riso-Printed /
Process
Illustrations are generated through a combination of gouache and and Posca poster markers, digitally scanned and edited through Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator.
Copy and formatting is completed using Adobe Indesign and formatting preparation for riso printing took place within Adobe Illustrator.
The colour pallette used is simply restricted to red, blue and green, adhering to risograph restrictions.
Copy and formatting is completed using Adobe Indesign and formatting preparation for riso printing took place within Adobe Illustrator.
The colour pallette used is simply restricted to red, blue and green, adhering to risograph restrictions.
Involved outsourcing took place in The Rizzeria, where Riso Printing was completed.
