LEADS & SLUGS

PUBLICATION DESIGN // STUDENT WORK // ART DIRECTION: KAREN WATKINS // 2018

AIGA FLUX 2018 PUBLICATION AWARD

the challenge

Create an 11x17 zine publication containing over 10,000 words on the topic of your choice.

The approach

When approaching the topic, I wanted to do it on something that I loved doing, letterpress. Leads & slugs are the most important core components to aligning + spacing your type in letterpress. When designing the zine, I had letters physically pressed and then scanned into photoshopped where I “digitally letterpressed” them, adhering to the traditional rules and restrictions of letterpress.

The Results

The end result was an 11x17 zine printed on french paper that educates readers about the history of manufacturers in the industry, a look into what press shops are doing today, how technology is affecting this old-school way of art, and some letterpress lingo.