creeana spinks

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creeana spinks

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CASTARSIS ZINE

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Castarsis was a personal passion project and collaborative effort to produce a independent zine exploring the intersection of art and astrology. The primary goal was to create a cohesive, visually compelling publication that stood out from traditional zines. By blending art, astrology, and personal growth, the project unified a community of artists to bring my vision into fruition. 

MY CONTRIBUTIONS

Role:  Lead Designer, Project Management, Creative Director


Programs:  Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom


Timeline: April 2023

WANT TO GO DEEPER?

Read Case Study Below

CHALLENGE

 The most critical challenge was print production fidelity. I had to personally learn the technical differences between CMYK and RGB color spaces, thoroughly editing and color-correcting all photos and visuals to ensure color accuracy on the final printed page.

CONTRAINTS

Honestly? The real constraint wasn't the design, it was bringing together 20+ young adults who all have busy lives and full-time jobs. Coordinating schedules for the photoshoots and meeting self-imposed deadlines was brutal. This required constant communication and relentless flexibility to deal with inevitable no-shows prolonging the projects deadline.

PHASE 01: CONCEPT & COORDINATION

 I began with concept development, designing a mood board for each astrological sign to establish a clear visual direction. Following this, I secured writers to create text descriptions for each sign. I managed communication, making sure everyone (models, stylists, artists) understood how their individual piece fit the bigger picture.

PHASE 02: VISUAL IDENTITY

This design system was heavily influenced by fashion and music magazines, like Project X, specifically for the text hierarchy and eclectic page layouts.

To make it a multimedia experience, the zine included a digital playlist to enhance the reader experience beyond the physical page.

PHASE 03: PRODUCTION

During the final production, I reviewed all elements for print and distribution. I focused on editing text, designing graphics in Photoshop, and creating limited-edition beaded bookmarks as a scarcity strategy to drive pre-launch demand.

Finally, I prepared all files to meet the printer's specific requirements (bleed, margins, CMYK color profiles) to ensure a high-quality finished product.

CONCLUSION

This project exceeded every expectation I had. Seeing 10 copies sell in the first 20 minutes and the exclusive editions sell out in an hour was very validating. Beyond the sales, seeing the zine stocked in a local boutique was the most meaningful reward, confirming that my work held its own in a professional retail environment.  

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