During the summer I visited Chester Zoo and took a disposable 35mm camera to experiment with, the results of these developed images were exceptionally nice therefore I didn't want them to just sit in a draw untouched collecting dust, I wanted to exhibit them in a final form. This generated the idea of a small zine to collate the images and present them in a more appropriate form that has a purpose. Creating a concept for the Zine, I focused the images around the new 'Islands' development of Chester Zoo, this 60,000 Sq foot complex aims to take the user out of the typical zoo environment using authentic detailing to change the narrative from gawping at caged animals to immersing the user within the animals natural habitat, revitalising the experience of the zoo. The use of imagery within the Zine articulates this distraction, using the figment of authenticity as a means to subvert the user experience making the attraction feel more immersive and ethical to its audience.
Developing the aesthetic of the zine allowed me to experiment with new forms of editorial design I had not yet encountered and was used as a small exercise to get me thinking objectively and creatively again after an extensive summer break forming a productive start to level 6. Tutor feedback suggested the most appropriate materials to use within the production of the zine, informing a recycled stock and thinker handmade dust jacket to create a contextual link to the natural authenticity of the Islands development. The narrative of the zine is reinforced through its design process creating an revelation for the audience, the photography has an exotic feel it is only when the audience read the a6 insert in the centre fold they establish the images are a collection from Chester Zoo having been fully immersed in the perception these images are from authentic foreign destinations. The tone of voice used within this insert is inquisitive, questioning the marketing strategies behind this development ultimately used commercially to place the user within a more immersive experience however the zine questions the ethics of such strategies, creating opportunity for larger social conversation. I am really happy with the production values and overall outcome of the project succeeding in its purpose to create a method of purposefully exhibiting this collection of photographic experimentation within a contextual form.
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