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This zine series curates documented graffiti works and related content. The purpose of this zine echos other contemporary and historic zines; it speaks to a niche audience of existing enthusiasts and participants of the anarchical culture. AND ONE aims to capture a snapshot of what is happening now within region-specific small graffiti crews. In other words, it acts as a time capsule that serves as an inspiration repository, expressive outlet, and storytelling vessel. Two issues of AND ONE have been developed and printed.

Project Team

All content is original, including disposable camera and digital photography, collages, illustrations, sketchbook pages, and transcribed stories from local graffiti artists.

Problem Definition

Although zines, magazines, and social media coverage exist within the graffiti community, there is a relative lack of strong design compared to other artistic mediums. This disservices the otherwise impressive art. Strong design, though an objective concept, has largely become institutionalized, rendering its principles lesser known to graffiti artists. Graffiti is not usually present in institutional settings due to its underground community and criminal nature. It is therefore rare, and perhaps against the culture for graffiti works to be displayed in galleries. But every art medium deserves a platform through which works can be shared, celebrated, and criticized.

Objective

To create another platform for graffiti artists to promote, share, and document work.

Design Approach

In order to balance the busy, colorful, and expressive graffiti letterforms and illustrations, the zine adheres to a 5 column grid system with consistent parent pages. The sans serif typeface Calibri was chosen as the sole font family due to its consistent letterforms and kerning, high legibility, and simplicity. Commonly used assets include duotones in red, and black and white halftones.

Outcome

These preliminary issues received positive feedback. Sharing copies within the graffiti community made others eager to both purchase and participate in future issues. 

Apart from improving the medium through which graffiti works can be displayed, there are other merits to good design. Good design helps further democratize and clarify messages by increasing accessibility. It effectively organizes content and information, which makes it more digestible and understandable. Design is therefore multidisciplinary and important in all applications. Integrating “good” design within other disciplines also forces designers to see art through different lenses which fuels creativity, leading to advancements in design itself.

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