The Canvas Collection:
This zine was dedicated to my love for using canvas bags. I hoped to challenge the format of the zine by creating a foldable, double-sided poster that exemplifies all the bags I own and their unique qualities. A method of storytelling, this zine explains my thoughts on each bag, rates their visual quality, durability, and foldability: all things I value greatly when purchasing a bag. Using Kimberly Elam’s grid systems, I structured the page to flow from one bag to the next, creating a narrative that is both entertaining and visually compelling.
Each bag holds its own story that I describe in brief paragraphs, GT Pressura Mono as it evokes a more scientific structure that contrasts the pliable, organic shapes of the bags. The bold letterforms of GT America against the softer green hue of the paper and the subtle “stitched” lines of the fold marks also provide a sense of contrast that guides the eye across the page, from title to title, from bag to bag.
The folding process was equally important to the zine’s overall look. Rather than a typical book, I fashioned the 11x17 poster into a foldable pouch, calling back to the content matter and the foldability of the bags. This also allows for a tactile interaction with the zine; the contents of the zine unfolding as one reads it.
The balance between a pseudo-scientific text and an organic flow of visual elements was a way to bring a sense of structure to a subject matter I was passionate about.