Travel Guide Zines
Personal ProjectChicago, Fall 2024
Whenever I am about to go on a trip—local or international—doing research is my favorite part of the planning process. Looking up unique places to see, foods to try, and live events to attend is adds more excitement about my taking my next adventure. However, all this research ends up turning my Google Maps app into a chaotic mess (see below).
Rather than letting all this research remain a mess on my phone, I organize all of my findings in a printed zine for me to peruse and guide me as I immerse myself in a new place. Designed and printed by me, for me.
For the Chicago edition, I designed the cover with a scattered selection of pinback buttons highlighting different aspects of Chicago history and culture sourced from the archives of the Busy Beaver Button Museum. Their collection includes buttons from as early as 1888 spanning different categories from political to innovative one-of-a-kind pieces. The museum is housed inside of the design studio and button factory at Busy Beaver Button Co., and located in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago.
I included a spread listing the various pieces of art I wanted to be sure to check out while visiting the Art Institue of Chicago, which holds so many long-admired artworks including the miniature furniture rooms, Frank Lloyd Wright glass windows, and the iconic Seurat painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, made even more well known by being featured in the classic scene in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, a favorite film from my childhood.
