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Project Stages
There were experiments with different formats and designs trying to find the one most suitable for the zine. At the begining, during the development stage, I wanted to keep the conventional format of a magazine layout and design. Further desided to try creating an online blog as a platform, but it seemed less authentic and too restricting. So the final format is a zine, which still took different layouts to figure out.
To see more about each stage, you can click on the icon and see the describtion and additional files.
#1: In class activity: making a Zine
At the start of the idea development process, we all created zines in one of the classes. It was the first draft done without a plan and with whatever magazines we had at the moment. I have already incorporated some details that I planned to have in the end product. Such as: correction of words on the from page and drawing clothes on a model as a critique of current standards for women's sport uniforms.
Summary of the topic:
The inequality of women and men in sports representation in the media. UK, social issue: sexism, sports community, feminists
How specific can it be:
Sports people, journalists, in the UK, now
Condense the research area into one sentence:
Gendered visual and spoken language in sports media.
Why this? Why now?:
The issue has not been resolved, but has progressed in the past hundred years, since women slowly started being allowed to do sports. It affects people everywhere, the view on sports, and women's ability to participate in it on equal grounds as men.
Research question:
How can we adapt the journalistic language to ensure equal portrayal of all genders?
Summary of the topic:
The inequality of women and men in sports representation in the media. UK, social issue: sexism, sports community, feminists
How specific can it be:
Sports people, journalists, in the UK, now
Condense the research area into one sentence:
Gendered visual and spoken language in sports media.
Why this? Why now?:
The issue has not been resolved, but has progressed in the past hundred years, since women slowly started being allowed to do sports. It affects people everywhere, the view on sports, and women's ability to participate in it on equal grounds as men.
Research question:
How can we adapt the journalistic language to ensure equal portrayal of all genders?
#2: Online Website Blog
I have experimented with the format of an online Blog/Zine as the outcome. I used Squarespace (website builder platform) for this. At this stage, the content only consisted of the original article and the side notes in red. Some graphic elements that were available on the website fit well into the aesthetic (such as red circles and underlining). Also there was the first try I did, where the coments in red appeared under main text. That version was brought to crits, and the feedback was to work out how to put the text on the side to add a layer to the name (no image saved).
Throughout, I have learned to engage with the software of website building. Learned to edit templates, set the colours and fonts, and change the layout. However, the format was still very restrictive for the purpose and did not allow for creative freedom with the design and layout.
Overall, Squarespace had too many restrictions and I did not want to come back to the paltform while building the portfolio.
The first and second image are two variations of the layout.
Throughout, I have learned to engage with the software of website building. Learned to edit templates, set the colours and fonts, and change the layout. However, the format was still very restrictive for the purpose and did not allow for creative freedom with the design and layout.
Overall, Squarespace had too many restrictions and I did not want to come back to the paltform while building the portfolio.
The first and second image are two variations of the layout.
#3: Zine outline on paper
This was an experiment to determine how I could fit the text and images on the pages while also providing a visual indication of key elements to keep in mind, such as drawing on top of images and editing style with the sidelined text and the new article partially written in red. At this stage, there were no particular articles chosen, so some pages do not have a story to follow.
#4: Digital drawn Zine outline
After establishing exact articles for the zine, I have redrawn the outline digitally. Overall, it has 8 articles (originals with marks) and 8 editing articles. An editor's letter was added to provide clarity on the zine's goals and why it was created in the first place. The citation page was moved to the front next to the editor's letter, and a message as a conclusion with research highlights was added at the end. Choosing the articles for this outline allowed me to use specific imagery as the original pictures were chosen.
#5: Methodology in Use
I have used Monika Bednarek's methodology on analysing evaluative language in journalism (see Research > Reading > Australian Journal of Communication) on the chosen articles. Using the evaluative parameters she highlighted, I circled evaluative language and defined under which category it falls.
It is the begining stage of editing the articles and finsing problematic serctions in the text.
It is the begining stage of editing the articles and finsing problematic serctions in the text.
#6: Editor's marks
As a reference to the teachers' editing marks, I wanted to create specific signs/marks for the zine to represent what I am highlighting without needing to clarify it every time. The meaning of all marks will be under the editors letter at the beginning, explaining every underline and sign used. Some were taken from teachers' marking system, some were just simple overall known marks, but all of them were given specific meaning for the purpose of the zine being editied.
#7: Adobe Zine Outline
The digital outline in InDesign was made to have an understanding of the size of the text and how to print it. In what sections and sizes it needs to be printed for the final collage, as well as the sizes of the images. The text on it at the moment doesn't matter, the only text that will be used in the final work from this is the left sides of the spread with the original articles.
It is based on the sigitally drawn outline with some minor changes. Two articles were moved: one about Ilia Malinin on pages 6-7, and the last one about the internationally scored goals. I switch them around, because while I was editing the articles, it seemed that the Malinin article didn't have many poins, while the international goals article had more to point out and edit.
It is based on the sigitally drawn outline with some minor changes. Two articles were moved: one about Ilia Malinin on pages 6-7, and the last one about the internationally scored goals. I switch them around, because while I was editing the articles, it seemed that the Malinin article didn't have many poins, while the international goals article had more to point out and edit.
#8: Articles Red Pen Side Notes
I have applied the editing marking symbols and did the sideline edit for all the articles. It will be rewritten into the final collage by hand. I felt like there was less to say than expected. With one article in particular about Ilia Malinin, the figure skater. I removed a big part of it as it was irrelevant, and no edits would apply to it.
Some article edits like the new stadium and Millie Bright rely on the coment section. Due to a lack of information and proper presentation of the matter, the comments under these two articles were particularly sexist. For those two articles, during my next step, I will focus on adding more information, rather than fully changing the language.
Some article edits like the new stadium and Millie Bright rely on the coment section. Due to a lack of information and proper presentation of the matter, the comments under these two articles were particularly sexist. For those two articles, during my next step, I will focus on adding more information, rather than fully changing the language.
#9: Edited articles
At this stage, the articles have been edited for the zine. There are red marks on the text that were added or replaced, and they will be applied in the final work. I have used the previous notes with the red pen highlights to ensure that highlighted parts will be edited to showcase another method of representing the athlets or those conencted to them.
#10: 3D Exhibition model
I have learned to create 3D models of spaces to represent the exhibition mock-up. It was created on Adobe Dimensions. The first model was created as a different space (can be seen in project progression > crits 23rd of March 2026). Many details were additionally downloaded from Adobe Stock Library in order to make the model as close to reality as possible.
For the exhibition, I would have a large drop from the ceiling with two sides. On one side, I would have the name of the zine, SideLine, and the locker room. On top of the locker room, it will say 'women spend 30-60 minutes more getting ready for a game because of the unrealistic beauty standards'. A bench with hygiene and make up prodict will stand in front of the locker print to emphasise the message. On the other side, there will be some images with critique of the uniform rules and a message, 'it's not about comfort when it's about gender, when it's about control'.
There would be the zine for the audience to read and look through, and a notebook for feedback and comments to try to prevent the possibility of vandalising the prints.
For the exhibition, I would have a large drop from the ceiling with two sides. On one side, I would have the name of the zine, SideLine, and the locker room. On top of the locker room, it will say 'women spend 30-60 minutes more getting ready for a game because of the unrealistic beauty standards'. A bench with hygiene and make up prodict will stand in front of the locker print to emphasise the message. On the other side, there will be some images with critique of the uniform rules and a message, 'it's not about comfort when it's about gender, when it's about control'.
There would be the zine for the audience to read and look through, and a notebook for feedback and comments to try to prevent the possibility of vandalising the prints.
#11: Scrapbook progression
For the zine, I have printed each article twice, as well as the additional pictures. Currently, I am experimenting with the printed out layout to ensure all items fit as well as there is space for the red side line text.
For the edited article version, I will use the parts of the printed original articles that will stay, and write the edits by hand using the notes from project #9. With the texts that overlap images, I will cut the lines individually to provide a better view of the images and ensure that there is enough space.
For the final product, I will scan the finished pages and print them into a magazine format for the exhibition.
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