Overview
This 32-page zine originated as a passion project intending to distribute booklets to various hydroelectric dams that host educational tours. The goal was to inform Generation Z on how hydropower fits into the bigger picture of clean energy. Since Gen Z is already well known for caring about the planet and demanding change, the goal was not to grab their interest but to maintain it.
This was a research-intensive project during which I parsed dozens of studies, brushed up on electrical engineering basics, and interviewed a seasoned industry professional. I knew solving the problem would require more than paraphrasing my research, but instead, reworking the content to feel relatable and trustworthy and staying away from highfalutin corporate jargon.
It was also an excellent opportunity to design out of my comfort zone. Many elements of this zine are on-trend for the 2020s, and I believe design should problem-solve and look ahead, not cater to trends. In this case, however, the loud 90s style that has come to represent Gen Z was the right choice to solve the problem. By combining those elements with historic patent images, the zine evokes a unique, youthfully scientific feeling and avoids boring readers with traditional corporate STEM visuals that have plagued brochures for years.
The center spread is a timeline showing the history of hydropower, with the primary line being a die-cut through the spread. It shows through to the spreads behind, which are designed to show only bright yellow and white gradients along the cutout's curve. The adjacent pages also had to be considered in terms of the cutout itself – below, on the "All of the Above" spread, you can see how the pages are carefully designed to incorporate the cutout into every aspect of the page it affects.
