Overview
Course
Design Minds
Prof. Jonathan Chapman
Tools
Illustrator
InDesign
Photoshop
Timeline
Nov - Dec 2023
We were tasked to develop an effective visual narrative in the form of a zine that communicates a personal perspective on the “design mind” — how you think it works, and why you believe it’s worth thinking about it.
This zine is an exploration of my design mind. Each page is a narrative piece, reflecting a designer’s journey through the complexities of the ‘design mind’ — from personal biases to societal impacts. Through this project, I aimed to provoke thought and foster a deeper understanding of the designer’s role in enacting positive change.
Design Concept
Looking back to what I learned from Professor Jonathan’s Design Minds course, I was deeply impacted by the realization of how designers, including myself, often stay in our own biases, even when we believe we’re relying on pure intuition. This awareness opened my eyes to the risk of viewing the world solely through our personal lenses, potentially missing the complexities of the broader, diverse world around us. With this zine, I aim to serve as a reminder to designers of the importance of stepping beyond our individual perspectives. It is to acknowledge and address the social issues that shape our world, urging us to consider the wider aspects and responsibilities inherent in the design process.
An image from Professor Jonathan’s Design Minds course:
“this feels fine” from my worldview, while there is actually so much more going on the other side.
I selected a swimming pool as the starting point because it represents a controlled, isolated environment — much like the initial state of a designer’s mind. In a pool, everything is contained, predictable, and safe; there are clear boundaries and a sense of seclusion from the external world. This mirrors how designers often stay in their comfort zone, focused inward and perhaps unaware of the broader, more complex realities outside their immediate surroundings.
The transition to an ocean setting signifies a shift towards a broad, dynamic, and uncontrolled environment. An ocean embodies openness, diversity, and unpredictability, characteristics that a designer encounters when stepping out of her comfort zone.
This metaphorical journey from a swimming pool to an ocean encapsulates the evolution of a designer’s mindset from a narrow, self-contained perspective to a broad, inclusive, and responsible approach to design.
Content Synopsis
Isolation in Comfort: Depicts the designer’s initial state of isolation, unaware of the broader societal challenges
Awakening to Reality: The designer’s first encounter with the complexities of the real world
Transition to Awareness: Signifies the growing awareness and connection with deeper societal issues
Action and Responsibility: Illustrates the designer’s first steps towards responsible and engaged design practices
Unveiling the Core Issues: The Designer collects various societal challenges
Diverse Elements to Consider: Discovers all the hidden themes for mindful design
Commitment to Mindful Design: Symbolizes the commitment to incorporate diverse societal elements into design
Positive Impact on Society: Demonstrates the positive impact of thoughtful design on society. It features various interactions whether that are between humans or animals, each marked with red dots. These are the symbols of the designer’s influence, represented by a designer wearing a red swimming hat).
Reflective Conclusion: Encourages readers to ponder the true essence and impact of design
Cut, cut, cut…
Printing!
Stitching practice
Design Process
Ideation stage
Tried both ways of binding: sewing a stitch & gluing PVC
The theme of my zine matches with a clean binding with glue
Content Design
Reflections
Achievements and Learnings
My first-time zine making! I enjoyed this process, from the initial ideation to the design execution. Crafting my own zine with my thoughts and perspectives gave me a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment.
Developing this zine allowed me to revisit and reflect on the lessons from the Design Minds course.
A key takeaway from this experience was a reinforced understanding of the philosophy that “everything we design designs us back.” This concept became a guiding principle in my zine, shaping its narrative, and reminding me of the reciprocal relationship between our creations and ourselves.
Challenges and Areas for Improvement
Simplicity vs. Depth: I tried to make the zine simple almost like a poetic format; however, after completion, I realized that the zine turned out simpler than anticipated. While the minimalistic approach was intentional, it made me think of the potential depth that additional complexity could have brought to the narrative.
Broader Topic Exploration: While page 6 laid out a spectrum of topics, I feel like there was room to delve deeper into each. A more thorough exploration of these topics could have provided a more detailed understanding, enriching the overall content of the zine.