Costa Rica Zine
While studying abroad in Costa Rica, I took more photos than I knew what to do with. I wanted to create something that told the story of my time there, something that reflected not only what I saw but what I learned. This zine highlights my experiences through personal narratives about my host family, time spent hiking, and lessons in ecotourism. I kept the design photo-forward, choosing fonts and layouts that evoke a sense of adventure and exploration. I originally created this as a personal keepsake, but I can also see it being used as promotional material for prospective study abroad students considering Costa Rica.
The process of making this zine involved researching adventure magazines and thinking critically about how to blend a personal lens with professional design. I chose a photo of a bird I took in the Monteverde Cloud Forest for the cover, it represents one of my favorite trips, is visually striking, and worked well with the light font I selected.
For the color palette, I initially considered forest green, but many of my photos already featured green tones. Instead, I chose pink and tan to create contrast and bring warmth to the overall design.
The layout was intentionally simple and photo-dominant, allowing for full-spread imagery that showcased the range of environments and subjects I captured. I used Adobe InDesign to design my document and Adobe Lightroom to edit my photos.
I centered my writing around three pillars of my experience: my host family, ecotourism, and time in the field. Together, these elements tell the full story of my time in Costa Rica.
