Was Gonna Wait: A Zine About Procrastination

Was Gonna Wait: A Zine About Procrastination
Jempol
USA (2023)

Publishing Details:
Foldy zine A6
Riso primed in blue on yellow paper

Description:
Mini calligraphy perzine about art procrastination, the pages give reasons why the artist needs to wait before completing this zine, including waiting to get better at art, waiting for better materials, waiting for a better idea, waiting for more time etc etc. The central spread concludes that the artist did it anyway. Fun idea showing art about your own inaction can reroute negative energy into creative energy.

Reflective Practice

 

Reflective Practice

Basil Hutton (2025)

Publishing Info:
A3 foldy zine
Black & white photocopy on cartridge paper

Description:
Mini zine in the form of lovely drawn comic panels, giving the author's experience of trying to pick their way through what a reflective practitioner is.

"Reflective Practice was made as part of my MA research into what it takes to successfully learn to draw something, interrogating my own practice and internalised ideals. In it, I explored the social context of my school experience and considered things in my life that had previously disrupted my development, using the framework of Kolb's Learning Cycle." Basil Hutton (2025)

Author's website: https://basilhutton.com/

Text Message Moods

Text Message Moods
Kali Kambo
Lancaster, PA, USA (2024)

Publishing Info:

A6 foldy zine, 8 pages

Colour laser. copy

Description:
Mini zine by which shows how we have learned to recognise patterns within texting. The playful zine imagines six short text exchanges, but shows how the pattern of the type changes with the emotion and intent of the typist, no words are included.
We now all recognise the wavering three dots (… is typing) and can often see at a glance, (when catching up with 52 messages on WhatsApp) whether someone has a lot to say, or is casually catching up with you. In Text Message Moods, ‘Venting’ shows the blocks of text required for explaining and agonising over a particular incident, whilst ‘Casual’ is a more even shorter exchange including smiley emoji.

Link to Author: @kali.kambo

What's at Stake? Young People's Take on AI & Education

 

What's at Stake? Young People's Take on AI & Education
Ayça Atabey, Colton Botta, Harry Dyer, Esther Priyadharshini, Jen Ross, Cara Wilson

Publishing Details:
A4 printed zine

36 pages
Colour way in orange and light blue

Description:
This zine represents the messages young people wanted to share with decision-makers and educators, to help you make responsible AI a reality in education. Funded by an AHRC 'Bridging AI Responsible Divides' project grant.

"In June 2024, young people at three secondary schools took part in workshops on the topic of the future of responsible artificial intelligence in education. This work was part of a larger research project on the emerging context of generative AI (GenAI) tools and their implications for education, now and in the future.

This zine is one outcome from these workshops, and it represents the messages young people wanted to share with decision-makers and educators, to urge you to make Responsible AI a reality in education. The young people were creative, thoughtful and imaginative – these materials express their hopes, fears, and personal meaning-making with and about AI. We encourage you to see their images and words as an important act of AI literacy, expressed through creativity, collaboration and reflection.

For the most part, young people are providing you with questions, not answers. We learned and had our assumptions challenged by their work. Please take what they have offered here as a provocation, a confrontation and an opportunity to think expansively about your own values and hopes for education". (from the project's website)

There are some pertinent comments about bias and representation here, the kids absolutely get it. Fascinating reading for anyone researching creativity and AI with education. For example, "Young people highlighted many unknowns regarding the consequences of using or not using GenAI. They wonder if they can trust the tech companies, when they see so many examples of unsolicited ads, bias, censorship and other negative consequences of technology."

Link to Project: https://ai-and-education.shorthandstories.com/zine/index.html

Computer is Your Friend

Computer is Your Friend
Ashleigh Ronning
Melbourne, Australia (2023)

Publishing Info:
A6 Riso printed zine
Saddle stiched

Description:
Small zine that uses humour and narrative in the form of a daily diary that shows the interactions of the narrator with their ‘helpful’ computer. The computer known as ‘Compu-Pal’ is trying to be useful but inadvertently stresses the user by overriding their decisions, thus infantilising the author. Interestingly this zine uses hand drawn versions of operating system windows, loading bars and alerts, making us aware of the human behind the story. The typography parodies ‘Chicago’, Susan Kare’s font designed for Apple, in use from 1984, the square shapes displayed on an early screen are a ubiquitous visual code for ‘computer’.

In Ronning’s zine the computer helpfully creates art to free up the narrator’s time and there’s a parody of a fitness watch that tells the user to “Please relax! Enjoy your leisure time!” amidst a flurry of pop-up windows alerting the user to data collection and privacy risks. The humour comes from the absurdity of the computer ‘helper’ which ironically doesn’t help at all.

Link to Instagram: @ashleyronning

Future Fantasteek! #22: Paper Cuts

Future Fantasteek! #22: Paper Cuts
Jac Batey, Brighton, UK (2023)

Publishing Info:
Broadsheet newspaper format
Eight pages

Description:
A visualisation how new terminology, and aphorisms can affect mental health. Illustrated through a combination of collage and drawing and printed in the form of a broadsheet newspaper, seeking to bring attention to the passive/aggressive phrases and words that are often used to bully and blame individuals. 'Forgetting your password' is a shared experience, where we are made to feel inadequate by the bossy authoritarian tone of the dialogue window. The artwork places us at the centre getting a ‘telling-off’ and nose-tweak from the irritated operating system.

The original illustrations from FF#22 were additionally selected for exhibition by Creative People Hounslow as part of their touring exhibition around London Libraries (2023-2025), How Are You (Really)? The exhibition sought to create a space for conversations about mental health and well-being in contemporary culture.

Link to Future Fantasteek! website: www.futurefantasteek.com

Algorithms of Late-Capitalism

Algorithms of Late-Capitalism
Karla Zavala & Adriaan Odendaal aka Internet Teapot
Rotterdam, Netherlands (2022)

Publishing Info:
Digital zines available to download free.
Issues 1-6 are laserprinted as A4 saddle-stitched copies

Description:
Internet teapot is a Rotterdam-based collaboration that focuses on speculative and critical design projects and research. The studio stems from shared interests in digital culture, critical theory, and the belief that design can be used in a socially transformative way, often created as part of academic workshops/gallery events. The zines explores our relationship with technology and the challenges to society.

Issue 6 - ‘AI myths’ (shown above) was a special issue to accompany the workshop ‘When Machines Dream the Future - AI Festival’, Goethe Institute, Dresden, Germany, 2021

Link to Internet Teapot: https://internetteapot.com/

Googling Yourself

Googling Yourself
Carl Reed

Publishing Info:
Portsmouth, UK, 2012
A6 Foldy, edition of 50
Printed on both sides in colour on matt paper.

Description:
A double-sided foldy showing what happens when our ‘hero’ Chris Jaffe tries to google himself. Humorous folded zine with large poster image on the reverse. Lovely illustrations.

Link to personal website: https://cargocollective.com/orangereed

Jempol Zine #2: Bitter Artist Quits Instagram

Jempol Zine #2: Bitter Artist Quits Instagram
Jempol
USA (2024)

Publishing details:
A6 foldy zine
Riso printed in green on lined black paper

Description:
Calligraphy perzine. The mini zine is Riso printed in dark green ink on black paper, which requires the reader to hold it closely to distinguish the text, it contains the artist’s rationale for leaving Instagram. Jempol reflects on their extended usage “was I really on the app for 8 hours every day? (don’t tell work)",

“I turned off notifications and refreshed the app every five minutes to see if I got any messages or Likes on my latest post. Sometimes I did this while driving.”

The zine is very honest and reflective in tone and exposes a need in us all to be liked and noticed. There is a black humour underpinning the zine with the artist fully aware of the toll Instagram is having on their self-esteem, the front cover has a graphic banner shouting ‘now 300% more negative!’ The artist is aware of this online manipulation but still engages with it, as we share in their frustration.

Dirty Old Town

Dirty Old Town - zine one
Mr Gordo
UK (2024)

Publishing Info:
A5 colour printing zine
36 x pages

Saddle-stitched
Wrapped in a black poo bag including 3 stickers

Description:

"A collection of photographs documenting the wide array of a dog poo signs, from the council ones to the homeowners DIY ones. As well as the bins, walls and trees containing bags full of dog waste all contributing to creating a  Dirty Old Town!" (from intro page)

Photos taken at various locations in England between 2021 and 2024. The zine invites readers to submit their own photos for later issues.

Links: Dirty Old Town Instagram

Disability Activism in Europe: Young Disabled Activist's Views and Experiences (Freedom Drive 2022)

Disability Activism in Europe: Young Disabled Activist's Views and Experiences
Cover text 'Freedom Drive 2022'

Dr Miro Griffiths, University of Leeds (2022)
Design by Jade French

Publishing Info:
A5 black & white laser print

Description:
Zine produced during 'Freedom Drive 2022' as part of a research project funded by the University of Leeds and the Leverhulme Trust called 'Disability Activism in Europe'. It explores understandings of disability activism, politics and the resistance practices of young disabled activists across Europe.
Including collages, hand drawn typography and illustrations, photographs and text around the themes of social justice, inclusion and accessibility.

What the Blob?

What the Blob?
The Illustration Society
Jade, Helena, Ashley, El, Annaliese, Daisy, Adam, Wenhong, Emily, Jade G, Alice, Cole, Amy.
Portsmouth UK (2025)

publishing details:
A6 concertina folded zine, with a secret stapled pocket.
Laser printed in colour.

Description:
Colourful, folded zine made from artwork created during an Illustration Society workshop. Society members each drew colourful blobs on an A4 page then swapped papers. They then drew over the blobs to create new images.

Link to: Illustration Society on Instagram

Badass Women in Horror

Badass Women in Horror
El Roberts

Publishing Info:
Place of publication: Portsmouth, UK (2025)
A7 foldy mini-zine
colour laser print, edition of 20 (no.2)

Description:
A small black, cream and pink zine featuring ink drawn illustrations of influential women in the horror movie scene. Including Carol J Clover, Jennifer Kent, Alison Peirse, Coralie Fargeat, Barbara Creed and Shelley Duvall. This feminist zine highlights the excellent contribution women have made to this genre.

Link to artist's Instagram: @gates_of_el

15th International Illustration Research Symposium - ‘Apparatus: the role of Technology in Illustration’

Jac and Lee have just returned from the 15th International Illustration Research Symposium - ‘Apparatus: the role of Technology in Illustration’ at Koç University, Istanbul, where they both got to deliver papers.

It was a Fascinating mix of all things illustration, Ceri Amphlett (also from UoP illustration) had a poster paper on show and Nicola Hay and Ros Simms (also part of the illustration team) both had their research cited in other talks. YAY!  Illustration.

Jac spoke about zines, Zineopolis and how illustrators are sharing their frustrations of social media and their disillusionment with the promise of technology. She also got to share her own practice. Lee spoke about punch cards and sound weaving in book arts. His micro library books and musical books were much appreciated.

There was a great zine created for the conference speakers by students from Anglia Ruskin University, University of the Arts London, Koç University and Mimar Sinai Fine Arts University, whichis now in the Zineopolis collection.

So energising to share ideas and practice with colleagues in a city full of cats.
Thanks to the organisers 👏👏👏
nanette hoogslag Ilgim Veryeri Alaca and Dilek Yördem

Symposum webiste: https://illustrationresearch.org/archive

Apparatus: The Role of Technology in Illustration

Apparatus: The Role of Technology in Illustration
Collaborative zine created to accompany the 15th Illustration Research Symposium held
21–22 Nov 2025, Koç University, Istanbul

Zine created for the conference speakers by students from Anglia Ruskin University, University of the Arts London, Koç University, and Mimar Sinai Fine Arts University.
A5 prints on the theme of technology and illustration collected into a pack with belly band.

Machines, appliances, gizmos, and contraptions have always been a part of illustration, enabling illustrators to transform their thoughts into real-life forms. The machine’s abilities, aesthetics, and impacts on humanity have always been a source of inspiration and concern. With the discussion raging around artificial intelligence as a game-changing technology, and when computers seem to inextricably serve as parts of creation and of our lives, perhaps it is time to take stock and consider the long-established but fluctuating relationship between illustration and the machine.  Symposium website (2025)

Symposium Website: https://kuarc.ku.edu.tr/research-symposium/ 

Zineopolis Guest Talk at Nottsfest 2025

Sat 11th November was the Nottszinefest @NottsZineFest, in Nottingham Central Library, UK.

Thanks to Matt and Craig from NTU and Raw Print for the invite, it was a pleasure to share some of the wonderful zines we have in our collection. I selected examples to of perzines, collaborative zines, tech zines and mental health zines. Lots to see and do with stalls packed out throughout the day.

Keepers

Keepers
Lee Shearman and Pip Rowson in creative collaboration with artist Vanessa Rolf

Publishing Info:
Place of publication: Hampshire, UK
Year: 2023
Size and binding: 10cm x 14.5cm, A3 foldy
Number of pages: 6
Print methods and paper type: Black ink on white paper

Description:
A glimpse into the work in a series examining the imprints left by objects.

“Seeking, digging, sifting, mapping, discarding, collating and labelling are visual artist Vanessa Rolf’s attempts to understand our world. She traces, cuts and stitches paper and cloth to embed codified shapes and marks that unearth stories. The materials of unpicked and reworked cloth and wool felt speak a familiar tactile language.”

www.vanessarolf.co.uk

Prompt

Prompt
Octarine and Egg Box Publishers

Publishing Info:
Place of publication: University of East Anglia, UK
Year: Unknown c.2024

Size and binding: A5 saddle-stitched
Number of pages: 20
Print methods and paper type: Full colour cover and inner pages

Description:
This collaborative zine from students at the University of East Anglia, features 16 different artists and writers working together to provide prompts for the others' creative work.

Quote from author’s website: “PROMPT features the work of 16 different artists and writers.
Each spread features a visual piece which was then used as a prompt for a written piece by another artist. This zine was a collaboration with Octarine, a society at UEA.

Thank you to the contributors:
Ben Boyd-Taylor / Sarra Said-Wardell / Avouleance / Anisha Jackson
Hugo Douglas-Deane / Alison Graham / Sophie Chapman / Kathryn Leigh
Jay Stonestreet / Amelia Weitzman / Shannon Lewis / Lucian Lee
Keely Shannon / Lauren Rice / Harry Menear / Sandra Tse

www.eggboxpublishing.com

Future Fantasteek! No.10, Royal Wedding Souvenir Issue

Future Fantasteek! No.10, Royal Wedding Souvenir Issue
Jac Batey

Publishing Info: 
Place of publication: Brighton, UK
Year: 2011, Edition of 50 (39/50)
Size and binding: A5 saddle-stitched
Number of pages: 18
Print methods and paper type: Cover - colour print on metallic silver paper, inner pages -
colour print on cream pages.

Description: 
A collection of illustration, hand lettering and photography with witty inventions, advice and satirical advertisements.

Quote from author’s website: “Who’d have thought it... ISSUE TEN, of this rambling nonsense. The Damp Research team have been trotting out this stuff for FIVE years now. At some point you might have thought someone would find something better to do...but apparently not. Well, the walls of money have stuck to rich people again and University is now soooo expensive only the Queen can afford to send her eldest son, don’t even bother sending girls - they just need to be pretty these days, start saving up for a boob job and sod the degree... (unless it’s in cosmetic surgery) Damp Research - thinking for you, because you’re watching X-Factor...”

Link to Author's website: FutureFantasteek.com