Lizard Field Guide
My intention with this project was to bring light to lizard pollination and how they interact with their environments and contribute to the overall ecosystem. I did this by creating two zines that balanced the line between fun full-page spreads and informational layout design. Before starting this project I wasn’t aware that lizards were pollinators and my guess is that a lot of other people probably feel similarly. When we look at pollination and who does it, it’s important to recognize who’s doing the labor on every level.
Concepting
Originally, I wasn’t sure what direction I wanted to take this project when it came to the physical medium. Aside from zines, I also considered making engraved wooden posters and biodegradable stickers. After thinking about the concepts for a while, it made the most sense to make informational zines where I could teach an audience about lizard pollination while also presenting art they would enjoy.
For the final design, I decided to only use black and white imagery with no color. My aim was to use as little ink as possible, and also to maintain a rugged, homemade zine feel. I also opted to use Roboto Mono for my main informational body copy. I felt this played well into the overall visual concept of making it feel less manufactured.
Wireframes
These are my initial designs for the informational pages of the zines. I wanted to create a grid system that worked through both zines in a way that felt fun to read and interact with.
Process
In support of lizards, this project features seed paper covers that I sourced locally from Boulder, Colorado. Originally I planned on having the pages printed with plant-based ink, however, I made the decision it would be better to save gas and print as close to home as possible. This way I am reducing my carbon footprint while also shedding light on the ecosystem and pollinators.
I bound both of these zines myself with hemp string as well enable to shrink the overall environmental impact of the production. The goal is that when someone is ready to toss out these zines, they can replant native Colorado wildflowers before recycling the rest of the pages.
