Jujube/selected-statuses-production-notes: Difference between revisions

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I decided to produce a pamphlet with a simple 3-hold stitch binding.  For this run I made 20 copies, which ended up a sizable work load. Although I made most decisions based on the small, defined scope for an estimated quick turnaround, I ran into some problems in the process. First, I spent two days of trial-and-error, ordering the A5 pages to fit correctly on double-sided A4. Second, I found that the actual cutting and folding did not match the precision of the registration mark. I had to cut and fold the paper, again and repetitively, after I used an industrial paper cutter at the Publication Station. Third, I used an old inkless pen and regular sewing needles to stitch the pamphlet, and they proved themselves to be the less-than-ideal tools.  
I decided to produce a pamphlet with a simple 3-hold stitch binding.  For this run I made 20 copies, which ended up a sizable work load. Although I made most decisions based on the small, defined scope for an estimated quick turnaround, I ran into some problems in the process. First, I spent two days of trial-and-error, ordering the A5 pages to fit correctly on double-sided A4. Second, I found that the actual cutting and folding did not match the precision of the registration mark. I had to cut and fold the paper, again and repetitively, after I used an industrial paper cutter at the Publication Station. Third, I used an old inkless pen and regular sewing needles to stitch the pamphlet, and they proved themselves to be the less-than-ideal tools.  


For future zines, I'd like to improve my knowledge in efficient binding methods (with the right tools). Binding comes first: and then the content can fall into places. Learning about some inDesign shortcuts (linking pages, e.g.) will also be useful. I am likely to explore the use of riso printing rather than taking the laser printers readily available for granted.
For future zines, I'd like to improve my knowledge in efficient binding methods (with the right tools). Binding comes first: and then the content can fall into places. Learning about some inDesign shortcuts (linking pages, e.g.) will be useful. I am likely to explore the use of riso printing rather than taking the laser printers readily available for granted.


Material costs
'''Material cost'''


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 13: Line 13:
| needle and threads || 1
| needle and threads || 1
|-
|-
| laser printing (double-sided B&W A4) ||  0.02 * 300 = 15**
| laser printing (double-sided B&W A4) ||  0.02 * 300 = 15^
|-
|-
| total || 17.6**
| total || 17.6^
|}
|}


** The actual cost did not include printing cost because of the student perk. (Free printing was a deciding fact for me to print on A4, the most ubiquitous paper size. I was conscious about the material usage — if I were to produce complex designs, I would not exploit these printers for a large run.)
^ The actual cost did not include printing cost because of the student perk. (Free printing was a deciding fact for me to print on A4, the most ubiquitous paper size. I was conscious about the material usage — if I were to produce complex designs, I would not exploit these printers for a large run.)


Breakdown of the timeline
'''Labor cost/Timeline breakdown'''


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
| d1 || selection of text from FB (Pages)
| 3hr || selection of text from FB (Pages)
|-
|-
| d2 || editing order of text (Pages)
| 5hr || editing order of text (Pages)
|-
|-
| d3 || decision of printing method --> text design (inDesign)
| 5hr || decision of printing method --> text design (inDesign)
|-
|-
| d4 || decision of binding --> reorder, style, copywriting (inDesign)
| 8hr || decision of binding, cover, stitch style --> reorder, style, copywriting (inDesign)
|-
|-
| d5 || prototype copy
| 10hr || printing, paper cutting, stitching
|-
| d6 || decision of cover, printing, paper cutting
|-
| d7 || paper cutting, stitching
|}
|}
Total production ~ 31hr ~3.5 days
'''Pricing and related thoughts'''
Since the setup for this zine was a market, pricing became important part of the project. The final price I gave the zine was 7/copy. (As a comparison, the service I offered was at 5 euros/5 mintues.) To match the minimum hourly wage in NL (73.58/day)[https://www.government.nl/topics/minimum-wage/amount-of-the-minimum-wage], I would have had to price the zine at 12/copy, unrealistic for a zine.
Without digging deeply into economics, the cost curve always starts at a high point.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cost_curve] For a small production run, things inevitably become expensive. If I squish design hours, the final product would be crappy. If I improve printing techniques, I might be able to lower the labor cost marginally.
Depending on the type of market, the demographic of the buyer changes drastically. (Parents with kids v. people interested in avant-garde) Is there a way to come up with consistent pricing that does not undervalue the product?
If I am participating a market similar to a farmer's market, than I will try to sell my goods as (something that resembles) a commodity. (On this occassion, the artist selling soap, though with a larger statement[http://soapboxing.club/], next to me did a great job.) A commodity market gives opportunities to rethink the physical form of a publication. For example, in the past years, people have sold lottery ticket to win instagram followers and cookies with tweets(?).

Latest revision as of 12:59, 8 November 2018

Once the idea was cemented, the production cycle of the zine took about a week.

I decided to produce a pamphlet with a simple 3-hold stitch binding. For this run I made 20 copies, which ended up a sizable work load. Although I made most decisions based on the small, defined scope for an estimated quick turnaround, I ran into some problems in the process. First, I spent two days of trial-and-error, ordering the A5 pages to fit correctly on double-sided A4. Second, I found that the actual cutting and folding did not match the precision of the registration mark. I had to cut and fold the paper, again and repetitively, after I used an industrial paper cutter at the Publication Station. Third, I used an old inkless pen and regular sewing needles to stitch the pamphlet, and they proved themselves to be the less-than-ideal tools.

For future zines, I'd like to improve my knowledge in efficient binding methods (with the right tools). Binding comes first: and then the content can fall into places. Learning about some inDesign shortcuts (linking pages, e.g.) will be useful. I am likely to explore the use of riso printing rather than taking the laser printers readily available for granted.

Material cost

roll of kraft paper 1.6
needle and threads 1
laser printing (double-sided B&W A4) 0.02 * 300 = 15^
total 17.6^

^ The actual cost did not include printing cost because of the student perk. (Free printing was a deciding fact for me to print on A4, the most ubiquitous paper size. I was conscious about the material usage — if I were to produce complex designs, I would not exploit these printers for a large run.)

Labor cost/Timeline breakdown

3hr selection of text from FB (Pages)
5hr editing order of text (Pages)
5hr decision of printing method --> text design (inDesign)
8hr decision of binding, cover, stitch style --> reorder, style, copywriting (inDesign)
10hr printing, paper cutting, stitching

Total production ~ 31hr ~3.5 days

Pricing and related thoughts

Since the setup for this zine was a market, pricing became important part of the project. The final price I gave the zine was 7/copy. (As a comparison, the service I offered was at 5 euros/5 mintues.) To match the minimum hourly wage in NL (73.58/day)[1], I would have had to price the zine at 12/copy, unrealistic for a zine.

Without digging deeply into economics, the cost curve always starts at a high point.[2] For a small production run, things inevitably become expensive. If I squish design hours, the final product would be crappy. If I improve printing techniques, I might be able to lower the labor cost marginally.

Depending on the type of market, the demographic of the buyer changes drastically. (Parents with kids v. people interested in avant-garde) Is there a way to come up with consistent pricing that does not undervalue the product?

If I am participating a market similar to a farmer's market, than I will try to sell my goods as (something that resembles) a commodity. (On this occassion, the artist selling soap, though with a larger statement[3], next to me did a great job.) A commodity market gives opportunities to rethink the physical form of a publication. For example, in the past years, people have sold lottery ticket to win instagram followers and cookies with tweets(?).