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BROWSE
Client
Self-Promotion
Quantity Produced
1,000
Production Cost
$415
Production Time
2 weeks
Dimensions (Width × Height × Depth)
11.25 in × 16.5 in
Page Count
20
Paper Stock
Newsprint
Number of Colors
–
Varnishes
–
Binding
–
Typography
Lettering: custom stencil with spray paint
Type: Courier New, Granite.
This zine is spot on in its message, with a name to cleverly match. The interfaces of flagship sites such as facebook and twitter pervade nearly every aspect of human existence nowadays. This is a clever poke at the way we interact with media.
The publication is an examination of life as a template-based experience. It points out ways we systematize human life, from naming our children to online dating to death rituals. The design draws on vernacular common to templates by incorporating “submit” and “like” buttons, and spaces for the reader to leave feedback. There is also a wacky mad lib style obituary section, a make-your-own standardized test, and a color-by-number cemetery scene. The zine is therefore a “symbolic template;” usable but for no purpose. It pokes fun at contemporary concepts like “prosumerism” and “interconnectivity” as ideas that sometimes serve to dehumanize people rather than improve quality of life.
The use of print to begin with is part of the zine’s irony. There is a visceral quality that comes with touching gritty paper and feeling the ink rub off onto your fingertips. It’s an experience that has an authenticity to it. It can’t be reproduced online. Newsprint can be tricky to work with because it’s hard to achieve subtle gray values. So this zine was designed with mostly high-contrast imagery: digitally distressed screen captures and spray-painted typography (from a handmade template). The medium isn’t a precious object, so readers may feel inclined to interact with it more.
This post was published in the original layout of FPO so all images are smaller. Project descriptions as well as production lessons are quoted in the main content area.
About
FPO (For Print Only), is a division of UnderConsideration, celebrating the reality that print is not dead by showcasing the most compelling printed projects.
FPO uses Fonts.com to render Siseriff and Avenir Next.
FPO is run with Six Apart’s MovableType 4.32-en
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About UnderConsideration
UnderConsideration is a graphic design enterprise that runs a network of blogs, publishes books, organizes live events and judged competitions, and designs for clients.
online
Brand New / Displaying opinions and focusing solely on corporate and brand identity work.
Art of the Menu / Cataloguing the underrated creativity of menus from around the world.
Quipsologies / Chronicling the most curious, creative, and notable projects, stories, and events of the graphic design industry on a daily basis.
Speak Up (2002 – 2009) / Discussing, and looking for, what is relevant in, and the relevance of, graphic design. Archives Only.
Word It (2003 – 2010) / Encouraging creative diversity in the community through monthly, one-word challenges. Archives Only.
Brand New Classroom (2010 – 2011) / Providing a space for critique and opinions on student identity workArchives Only.
graphic design
Department of Design / Designing corporate and brand identities and full development of printed and digital matter for clients.
publishing
The 2010 FPO Awards / 2011, self-published.
The 2010 Brand New Awards / 2011, self-published.
Flaunt: Designing effective, compelling and memorable portfolios of creative work / 2010, self-published.
Events & Judged Competitions
Brand New Conference / A one-day event on the development of corporate and brand identity projects by some of today’s most active and influential practitioners from around the world.
Brand New Awards / Celebrating the best identity work produced around the world.
FPO Awards / Celebrating the best print work from around the world.
Writing
Graphic Design, Referenced: A Visual Guide to the Language, Applications, and History of Graphic Design / 2009, Rockport.
Women of Design: Influence and Inspiration from the Original Trailblazers to the New Groundbreakers / 2008, HOW Books.
The Word It Book: Speak Up Presents a Gallery of Interpreted Words / 2007, HOW Books.
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