New love - Flow Magazine

For my Major Negotiated Project (MNP) in my final year of my degree which I have just started I am aiming to create a new craft magazine for the young adult audience. 

Through my research into similar magazines which have this approach I discovered Flow magazine. It is based in The Netherlands although has recently started to produce international issues. I immediately fell in love with the look and feel of this magazine. And the style it holds which is transferred into the website. (http://www.flowmagazine.com)

Flow describes itself; "Flow Magazine International is a magazine for paper lovers. We love crafting, mindfulness, illustrations, and positive psychology, and we celebrate the handmade and imperfect." This sense of having fun and enjoying yourself is something I wish to transfer into the craft magazine market. 

Everything about the magazine from the front covers designs, layouts and packaging for the consumer market intrigues me to learn more. 

I love the look of this magazine when it is on the shelf. I understand the importance of this as this is what the consumer is seeing when they decide whether or not to buy the magazine. It definitely would stand out for me and catch my eye. 

My copy of Issue 2 is in the post on the way to me, I cannot wait until it arrives. Issue 3 has just been launched!!

Commissioned Portrait final piece

Commissioned Portrait final piece; detailed shot of coloured thread.

Module hand in

Final Year 2 Graphic Design module handed in today. 4 projects; Design Society, Niche Guide, YCN - Lego and Exhibition. 

Niche guide typography

Typography in my Christmas hats niche guide; stitching into fabric.

Christmas Hats Niche Guide

Niche guide on Christmas hats, I have done the visuals in the guide by sewing people with different Christmas hats on. This gives a 'cutesy' feel to the guide which is when combined with the small format (10x15cm) makes it suitable for carrying on the person or in a handbag. Text has been added to give a sense of humour to the guide. Also the colour of stitching I have used to help if the person reading it wanted to make the hat themselves. I have bound the guide with a knitted strip to give a more textural feel. The pages of fabric themselves smell of cinnamon and nutmeg spices as they were painted with these before sewing into them. Giving an added sense of Christmas.

Practice Fabric Zine

Mock up zine named 'Converse:Converge'. Testing how well the design would transfer onto fabric. This needs further testing with other fabric, thicker seems like it would work better. I think the idea of printing my zine onto fabric rather than paper is a good one however. I believe this could be very successful when placed onto better fabric and on a larger scale and the details worked on further.

Make your wardrobe happy

Poster for a Design Society event at De Montfort University, Leicester which I have made up. The idea consists of bringing old and worn clothes and recycling, upcycling and redesigning them. This could be through craft and textiles or simply putting a new design on the front which would have been created by one of the student graphic designers. This is a work in progress, I like the colours in this as it gives out a fresh vibe. Brighten up your wardrobe! Make your wardrobe happy! 

Fabric soaked in nutmeg

Fabric soaked in nutmeg; experimenting with the essence of christmas