OTHER COLLECTIVE MAGAZINE
2019 - 2021
OVERVIEW
Other Collective Magazine is an online and print media platform that is focused on covering and illuminating the issues and culture of South Asian, Southwest Asian, North African (“SWANASA”) communities while decolonizing media perspectives. As an Illustrator promoted to Illustrations Editor, I eagerly spent almost 3 years helping uplift members of the SWANASA community through art and design.
MY ROLE
As Illustrations Editor, I met weekly with my team of 5 illustrators where I assigned tasks, discussed current projects, led workshops, and created a safe space for my illustrators. Through my role as Editor, I was able to help my team grow and produce an ample amount of content for both online and print pieces.
As an illustrator, I worked with writers and layout designers to visualize and illustrate assets for accompanying articles. I worked on 3 total issues, creating illustrations for both digital and print work. I also worked very closely with the social media team to create carousel covers and other visual assets for our digital feed.
TOOLS
Figma
Procreate
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe InDesign
WORK
Illustration
Layout
Graphic Design
Typography Design
Social Media Content
issues
Volume 2. Displacement
This issue focused on displacement within culture, region, and even identity by delving into the causes of this separation and offering reconciliation to those affected by these experiences.
In attempt to convey the feeling of identity displacement in America, I drew writer Deepa Singh taking a stroll in downtown San Francisco where she then suddenly encounters flags of Fiji and India raised high and blowing in the wind. This illustration showcases what a world that accepts and embraces our identities may look and feel like.
Volume 3. Gastro-politics
This issue focused on governmental policies over food and control of food and its sources as well as the resulting problems from these tensions.
Inspired to show unity through something as comforting as a warm cup of tea, I was able to illustrate an array of different chais or teas from all over the world.
I illustrated a Palestinian woman emerging from an olive tree, her dress or thobe adorned with traditional Palestinian embroidery. The design symbolizes how Palestinians draw strength, resilience, and identity from their deep cultural roots.
To personify every spice, I created a face on the spice bowls that accompanied the personalities described in the article. For example, the cinnamon is described as flirty and youthful so I drew a winking face whereas the turmeric is described as old and wise so I drew glasses that dipped a little under the eyes.
I wanted this illustration to embody fierce power that seemed to be almost rising from the page so I drew the leaves to look like they were 3D by creating shadows and playing with gradients.
Volume 4. Censorship
This issue illuminated narratives of oppression by exposing those associated with the silencing and surveilling of SWANASA voices and experiences.
Hoping to convey elements of censorship throughout this magazine, the team and I implemented a lot with censor bars, surveillance cameras, text strike-though, and other elements of censorship. I designed the cover of this issue by focusing it on the core of censorship today—digital screens. I drew a piece of tape attempting to cover the camera of the computer which is simultaneously recording without the user's consent. The pop-up message ("This website is unavailable in your region") is one many of us see as greater powers attempt to control the media that we consume.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Working directly with social media managers and writers, I was able to create 30+ illustrations for our instagram Feed. Through a consistent and minimalist illustration style, our social media platform reached thousands of followers. In early July of 2020, we experienced a 1500% growth on our platform as well as 100k impressions as a result of our coverage of global events in the SWANASA regions.
