Good news, I've now joined forces with the brilliant Bethnal Green printer co-operative that are Calverts they have agreed to take on all 8 issues of CUB this year as well as helping me to find a lovely paper company based out of Bow in East London. So all future issues of CUB are going to be printed on a fantastic 100% recycled 140gm uncoated paper and with glorious vegetable oil based inks and produced/supplied within a 2 mile area.
I think I'm going to go have a tyre bonfire to celebrate.
I'm starting completely from scratch on the CUB design, and hoping that they will let me change pretty much everything. Below are a couple of snaps of one of last years issues.
Plans for the changes include:
- Size & Format - Currently cub is A4 the which I don't think is very practical for a free magazine that you want people to pick up and pop in their bags, so exploring a range of alternative sizes that will help it to stand out as not just another magazine on the shelf as well as make it easier for people to carry with them. This should also mean a higher page count making it a less flimsy item.
- Paper, Printing & Enviroment - At the moment cub is printed on the kind of paper that should only be used as a kebab flyer and at a printers located just outside the EU, conveniently EU sustainable printing rules don't have to apply. I'm currently trying to source some local printers and paper companies that we would be able to work with to improve the print quality as well help us to reduce the currently huge carbon footprint. Keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be able to find a nice recycled paper and printer that works with vegetable inks, we shall see.
- Photography & Illustrations - An area that really lets down the magazine at the moment is the quality of its visuals so on the hunt for some student photographers and illustrators to with with on future issue. If you know anyone get them to send an email to introducingluke (-at-) gmail.com
After wanting to get involved with some more live briefs and get some production experience I have not managed to become the sole designer for Queen Mary University's student magazine called CUB.
I've agreed to take on the design of all 8 issues this year and this should hopefully be a real chance to have a lot of fun with a live project.
Check back for updates on how its all going.
