Independent artists and big brands are turning to paper-based projects to create playful, tangible artefacts that provide a nice counterpoint to our screen-based driven world. While most of these formats have been used for centuries, digital fabrication tools have made some of these structures easier and cheaper than ever to produce. You could prototype any of projects/templates on this page and then create multiples by using an inkjet printer, laser cutter, or vinyl cutter (all available free of use in the BMCC Makerspace).
ZINES
The word “zine” is usually used to describe a DIY publication for a small/niche audience. Recently it has also been applied to a broader genre of artists books and inventive book formats – which you will find examples and tutorials for below.
Zine tutorials
- One-page zine: Tutorial | Tutorial 2 (“pants-cut” version)
- Accordion Book: Tutorial
- Pocket Accordion Book: Video tutorial
- Meander back: Video tutorial
Zine inspiration
- Citation Needed is a small Queens-based press that works with local communities – they organize workshops that culminate in collaborative and individual artist books/zines.
- Purgatory Pie Press creates limited and edition and custom artists books. They’ve also published several excellent books about how to make books.
- Olivia Rodrigo’s “Sour” Zine was mass-produced but is meant to evoque the DIY zine aesthetic
- “Your Next Coffee Might Come With a Zine” Eater article by Meghan McCarron talks about the zine trend in niche food brands
- Supreme has done limited edition zines, keeping with their exclusive reputation.
- An article about luxury brands using the zine format as brand building
- A few places to browse and buy zines in NYC: Printed Matter | Quimby’s Bookstore | Desert Island Comics |
POP-UPS
There are awe-inspiringly complex pop-ups out there, but you can also achieve a lot with very simple structures and a great idea/design. The V-fold and Parallel-fold are a great starting (see video tutorials below).
Pop-up tutorials
- The Pop-up channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx2M2bGHtXBszG6tuR_NIbQ, Including tow of the most versatile /easey pop-ups:
- Ray Marshall’s website: https://raymarshall.com/things-to-make/
- Matthew Reinhart’s website: http://www.matthewreinhart.com/diy-pop-ups/
- If you want to dig further, I highly recommend “The Elements of Pop-up” book by David Carter
Pop-ups inspiration
- Julia Yus makes lovely pop up artifacts (including commissions for big luxury brands)
- Lovepop is one of the biggest mass producer of pop-up cards.
- “Oceano” by Anouck Boisrobert looks very complex but each page is actually a simple, very large V-fold with elements “peaking” above and under it.
- Komagata’s “Little Tree” consists of one very simple v-fold on each page – each representing a stage in the life of a tree. The simplicity and scale is what makes it beautiful
- “Plat Du Jour” by Philippe UG and Anne Brugni has some great examples of stacked V-folds with attached elements.
- “Paper Blossoms: A Book of Beautiful Bouquets for the Table” by Ray Marshall. Nice concept: book can be used as a displayable sculpture.
- “Six Brave Explorers: A Pop-Up Book” by Kees Moerbeek & Carla Kees. Almost the same pop up each time, but the characters/different illustrations is what makes it so fun!
- “Alphabet in Motion” by Kelli Anderson. One of the best paper engineers working today. This book is a feat of paper engineering (and a great typography guide to boot). Follow Kelli on IG – she is based in Brooklyn, NY and often holds great workshops, events etc.
- “Stranger Things” by Simon Arizpe – one of the leading paper engineers in the US today. Really complex/impressive structures.
OTHER PAPER MECHANISMS
Here are a few other fun paper mechanisms that can make for great cards and books
- Flexagon: Example | Printable template (from Kelli Anderson)
- Two-Blind Dissolve: Example | Printable template (from Kelli Anderson)
- Pull strip: Example | Video tutorial
- Pull-tab flap: Example | Video tutorial
- Waterfall: Example | Video tutorial | Printable template
OTHER RESOURCES
- The Center for Book Arts has tons of great exhibitions and workshops around zine/artist book formats and paper engineered artefacts.
