ME? OR ME.

ME? OR ME.

AN ILLUSTRATED ZINE ABOUT

SELF-DOUBT, IDENTITY AND FINDING PURPOSE

( project overview )

( duration )

( deliverables )

Me? or Me. is an illustrated zine about learning to belong to yourself.Written as a seahorse’s personal journal, it moves from the quiet weight of self-doubt into a vibrant rediscovery of purpose. It’s a story about empathy, embracing unconventional fatherhood, and finding strength in what makes us different.

Concept & Story development

Story in Poetic Form

Zine Design

Character Design

1 Week

All poems and written verses featured in this project are original works by Riya Patil.

( narrative development )

CONCEPT 1: Passing it on

Core idea: A narrative that moves from one spread to the next, following the life cycle of a seahorse.A transparent layer between the double spreads would create continuity between consecutive moments, allowing one spread to visually lead into the next.

01 : Passing eggs from the mother seahorse to the father

02 : Releasing baby seahorses from the father’s pouch

03 : Mating again

CONCEPT 2: Two sides of the same story

Core idea: A translucent layer carries shared characteristics of two contrasting ideas, with illustrations placed beside each other to highlight their differences and similarities.The butter paper acts as a visual bridge between the two sides of each spread.

01 : Courtship / Fertilisation: mating and passing eggs

02 : Pouch Incubation / Embryo Development

03 : Birth / Release & Survival

04 : Maturity: connected back to the opening spread, creating a continuous cycle

CONCEPT 3: Where do I fit?

Core idea: The narrative follows a seahorse questioning where it belongs in the world. The seahorse encounters different environments and attempts to adapt to them, but each one exposes a different limitation:01 : a terrible swimmer.02 : a digestive system inefficiency.03 : a lack of defensive mechanisms.Trying to fit in still unable to adapt.04 : finds his unique traitNo other shape fits. Only the seahorse does.The narrative ultimately shifts from trying to fit in to recognising that its uniqueness gives it value.

( type system )

Font Name: Arbotek Light

Font Name: BD Colonius Regular

Font Name: Neue Kabel Regular

Font Name: Droog Heavy

Font Name: Acier Bat Text Solid

I explored geometric and expressive typefaces before choosing a simple, readable direction that could sit within the geometric visual language without competing with the illustrations.

( sketch explorations )

( illustration style )

I took inspiration from childhood building-block games, where different shapes are assembled to create a larger structure. I used the same idea to explore the seahorse's struggle to fit into its surroundings.

Fluidity shown using Circles:

Used to represent the graceful movement of fish and the seahorse's relationship with water.

Vulnerability shown using Rounded Square:

Used to represent the seahorse's lack of teeth.

Aggression shown using Triangles:

Used to represent the sharpness and defensive qualities found in other sea creatures.

( colour palette )

Blue/Green:

Calm, depth and immersion in the underwater world.

Pink:

Vulnerability and softness.

Warm Yellow/Orange:

Intensity, tension and the seahorse's growing awareness.

( zine illustrations )

FRONT

BACK

SPREADS

BACK POSTER