Roots:
Zero Waste
Magazine
Adobe InDesign | Print and Book Design | 2025
Roots is a magazine developed as part of an Experimental Publications course at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The project involved producing two self-directed editions, allowing full control over both subject matter and material choices. The editions are structured around fall and spring, seasons that symbolize transition and provide opportunities to pause, reflect, and reevaluate aspects of life often neglected within the pace of contemporary living. The first edition, Renewal, explores themes of rest and reassessment, while the second edition, Cultivate, focuses on growth, intention, and renewal through action.
Project Proposal
This project was based on a prompt given by the professor in the Experimental Publications class. The assignment was to create a two-edition magazine series centred around a chosen subject, with each edition sharing a common thread while presenting distinct content.
I chose low-waste living as the focus, inspired by my growing interest in the subject and a desire to explore more sustainable ways of living in my own life. To better understand how the topic could be approached editorially and visually, I researched existing publications exploring sustainability, environmentalism, and low-waste lifestyles. This research helped me identify potential content directions while also informing aesthetic direction of the two editions.
Page Mapping
To narrow down the topics and content for each publication, I drafted page maps to explore different editorial structures and layouts. These helped me visualise how the content could flow throughout each edition while experimenting with a range of design approaches. I explored layouts incorporating full-bleed imagery, article callouts and pull quotes, as well as dedicated sections focused on the craft and DIY elements of low-waste living. This process allowed me to balance informational content with more hands-on, visually engaging features while establishing a consistent structure across both publications.
Dying Fabric
For a handmade feel in the magazine to go hand in hand with the concept of encouraging readers to use waste for easy creative crafts and think more before throwing something in the trash. For the first edition, I used samples of tumeric, garlic skin, onion skin, and beetroot dyed scrap fabric I created and incorporated it into the cover as well as tangible samples inside of the actual book.
Handmade Artisanal Paper
For the second edition of the book, the handmade how to section was on re-using paper waste to make new paper for drawing, envelopes, and other crafts. I had been cutting down on cardboard waste myself, and for the sake of visual aesthetics and time, I included second-hand handmade paper I acquired at a local shop.
Binding & Print
For the physical production of the publications, I wanted the material itself to reinforce the project’s focus on sustainability, so I explored a range of recycled papers and cardstocks.
The first edition, Renewal, was initially printed on recycled, semi-transparent mulberry paper, while the second edition, Cultivate, used a raw, cardboard-toned recycled cardstock. The heavier cardstock created some technical challenges, particularly with ink adhesion and the reproduction of full-bleed imagery. However, I was drawn to the way the paper’s natural brown tones interacted with the negative space and lighter colours, creating an organic quality that complemented the subject matter.
I chose recycled printer paper for the final bindings. While it offered a cleaner and more reliable print result, the material exploration informed the visual direction and reinforced the relationship between the publications’ content and their physical form.
Edition 1: Renewal
Renewal, the first edition of Roots, explores autumnal living through the lens of food waste, seasonal consumption, and mindful resourcefulness. Inspired by the natural cycle of harvest and renewal, the publication encourages readers to reconsider how we use, preserve, and repurpose food, connecting sustainable practices such as reusing food scraps to make fabric dye.
Edition 2: Cultivate
Cultivate, the second edition of Roots, explores springtime renewal and intentional growth through Ayurvedic practices, building on the themes of seasonal and mindful living established in the first edition. Recycled mulberry paper, cardstock, and handmade paper reinforce the tactile, natural qualities of the publication, while content such as a paper-making tutorial encourages sustainability, creativity, and mindful approaches to reducing waste.
