OUGD602: Personal Project - Figment Zine: Professional Feedback

Happy with the final outcome of my publication, I sought out professional feedback to see how this fits within the commercial sector of independent publications to see if this output adheres to a professional standard of work. Receiving ongoing feedback from Alec throughout the course of the project allowed his experience within publication design to help inform my creative decision making an ensure appropriate materials and processes were utilised. Furthermore I sought out further feedback from Colours may vary, an independent bookstore in Leeds, as this would be the publications natural environment therefore, this feedback becomes particularly appropriate. 

Alec Dudson, Intern Editor and Chief

It’s been really interesting to see this project emerge from the photographs originally shown and most impressive, has been the manner in which the project and its design makes great use of those images. 

Figment sits somewhere in between artist books and zines and with a little more content could certainly sit alongside the kind of publications available on sites like thegardenedit.com. The materials are well considered and refer to the subject matter which shows a real understanding of the many layers to really good graphic design. The only material choice that sit slightly out of place is the multi-coloured foil to the title. For an even more premium finish, and to move the final piece further away from the zine aesthetic to the artist book aesthetic, I’d suggest using a thicker board for the cover, to almost give the publication a hard-back feel. That added tactility would allow a great opportunity for a thoughtful use of texture, cloth covering and debossing. 

Overall, Figment is a charming example of how to take a photo shoot and turn it into a considered, niche publication. 

Andy, Colour's May Vary founder. 

Figment seems to be an apposite word for these post truth times. While we stumble around looking for shreds of authenticity, the waters between right and wrong, black and white and up and down silt up and muddy. Figment, a new photo zine from 3rd year graphic design student Rhys Jones, plays with this dichotomy by asking us whether we can believe our own eyes, and it does so rather beautifully. 

The content of this well thought out zine plays with the idea of place - where are we, what are we looking at, are things as they seem? Photographs present a tropical landscape of palm fronds, decorated pottery, a beached wooden boat, and primitive stonework all set against a blue sky. However we've not crossed an ocean to get here and no border control has been necessary - we're 80 add miles down the M62 at Chester Zoo, inside man-made habitats constructed to re-capture the essence of elsewhere.

From the frame cut into the cover, revealing the dense foliage beneath, Figment entices us in, like Alice into the rabbit hole. The conceit is a simple one, but well executed, it challenges preconceptions of how we read images, or how images work on us. The reveal is contained in an explanatory booklet thread sewn into the centre pages, which throws light on the project. Sure a picture might paint a thousand words, but those words might all be lies. 

That Rhys is graduating from a graphic design course is the one part of Figment that is obvious and clear - the layout, materials and construction of this handsome zine lend it a feel and flow that many similar photo zines lack. Figment might be all about deception, but it's a true gem.

This summative feedback provided is extremely positive and engaging, Alec provides, critical insight as to how the materials and processes work together with the narrative to create a more insightful project. Andy positively reflects on the quality of the output and its use of narrative to add substance to the publication which adds a well rounded finish to the project. This feedback reinforces the successful nature of the publication and encourages me to undertake more personal projects in the future.