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In the final presentation of Unit 2, I completed a felted wool piece and created a zine to convey the experiences of loneliness I gathered from my research on Chinese international students. After receiving feedback from the tutorial and progress show, I realized that my current work remains somewhat “surface-level” in its exploration of the theme. It primarily expresses abstract emotions without fully addressing the concrete challenges and difficulties faced by international students. Therefore, in Unit 3, I plan to build upon this foundation by digging deeper into specific details and examples to present a more comprehensive portrayal of the topic.

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After finalizing the main characters of the story, I began working on character design. Initially, I planned to use a simpler comic style. However, after completing the first version of the character designs, I found that the overly simplified approach made the characters' traits insufficiently distinct. Therefore, I adjusted the art style according to each character's personality to make their features more pronounced and unique.

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My project is based on exploring the loneliness experienced by international students. It consists of a zine and a felted wool artwork. Through everyday life scenes and objects, the project aims to evoke reflections on the meaning of "home."

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How does it respond to a Community, Site or Collection?

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How does it respond to a Community, Site or Collection?

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This project responds to the international student community, particularly those who feel isolated and disconnected from their home countries. The zine and felted wool artwork draw on personal narratives and common experiences shared by international students, highlighting the emotional and psychological challenges they face. By presenting these stories and scenes, the project creates a platform for dialogue and connection within this community. The site for the project includes university campuses, student dormitories, and online platforms where these works can be displayed and discussed.

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What are the proposed outcomes of your project? 

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What are the proposed outcomes of your project? 

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A zine that compiles illustrated stories, personal anecdotes, and reflective essays on the theme of home and loneliness.

A felted wool artwork that symbolizes the comfort and warmth of home, contrasting with the feelings of isolation experienced by international students.

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Why is it in this format? How does the format reflect the content?  

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Why is it in this format? How does the format reflect the content?  

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The zine format provides a versatile and accessible way to share illustrated stories and essays, making it easy for students to relate to and reflect on their own experiences. The zine's informal and personal nature encourages openness and authenticity in the narratives.

The felted wool artwork offers a tangible representation of home and comfort, which contrasts with the intangible feelings of loneliness. The tactile quality of wool evokes warmth and security, serving as a physical reminder of home and belonging.

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Can you include any relevant reference material that helps contextualise your project?

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Can you include any relevant reference material that helps contextualise your project?

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· Interviews and surveys with international students - These primary sources offer authentic accounts and personal experiences that inform the project's narratives.

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Create a series of colored pencil illustrations based on the scenes in the felted wool artwork. These illustrations would depict more details of the emotions and experiences of international students in various scenarios.

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Develop a book that provides a detailed narrative of an international student's journey, from the initial excitement and subsequent feelings of loneliness upon arrival, to eventually finding ways to cope and coexist with loneliness. Through this book, I aim to convey not only the sense of loneliness but also how students find their own ways to manage these feelings. However, I am currently unsure about how to effectively express this story, including the best narrative structure and visual presentation.

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In my research for Unit 2, I identified five main factors that contribute to the sense of loneliness experienced by most international students: celebrations, social interactions, education, daily food habits, and illness. Based on these findings, I decided to further explore the specific experiences of the individuals I had previously interviewed from these five aspects. To do this, I designed a questionnaire and successfully gathered more detailed and comprehensive material.

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Survey results from four international students.

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Survey results from four international students.

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When the questions were specific to a particular scenario, the results collected became more detailed and clear.

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After receiving responses from the four questionnaires, I began considering the best way to capture the nuanced details and emotions of their experiences. I ultimately decided that a comic format would be ideal—not only is it visually engaging, but it also allows for a delicate expression of emotion and everyday moments through visuals and dialogue. While organizing the material, I found that the four individuals could naturally be divided into four chapters, each corresponding to a theme from my research: social interactions, food, health and illness, and holidays. To focus more on their experiences of solitude in everyday life, I chose to omit the “study” aspect. Each chapter will unfold as a short story that weaves in their individual narratives and background context, beginning with the initial journey of studying abroad, their first impressions of the UK, and then delving into each of the four themes to reveal their personal experiences and emotions.

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Based on the text storyboard script, I started working on the comic's panel layouts. However, I quickly realized that this process wasn't as easy as I had imagined. Deciding on the right framing to convey the characters' environment, atmosphere, and emotions requires a lot of thought and consideration.

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Because of its balance between portability and readability, I chose the A5 size for this comic book. The compact dimensions make it easy to carry around, while still providing enough space to showcase the artwork and story.

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Building on the completed sketches, I began to work on the final line drawings, making some adjustments to the storyboard along the way. One challenge I encountered was the limited time available, which prevented me from sketching directly at the specific locations. Fortunately, these scenes are based on my own surroundings, so I was able to use photos from my daily life and online sources as references. For some of the more complex actions, I had to pose myself first to capture the movement before drawing. The entire process took around ten days to complete. Since I felt the story had a subtle, melancholic tone, I chose to use black-and-white illustrations to best convey the emotion and atmosphere.

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After completing the linework for the interior, I started thinking about a cover image that would capture the essence of the story. Since the narrative begins with receiving my UK student visa, I thought it would be fitting to use that pivotal moment as the cover. This image not only symbolizes the beginning of the journey but also reflects the excitement and anticipation of entering a new phase in life. The visa serves as a powerful visual that immediately connects with the theme of studying abroad and sets the stage for the experiences detailed within the book.

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To ensure the best final print quality, I tested several types of paper with different colors and textures while working on the line art. I wanted to find the most suitable paper for black-and-white illustrations, so I experimented and sought feedback from classmates and teachers. Based on this, I concluded that a slightly yellow-toned paper was ideal for conveying the mood of the story. As a result, I chose recycled matte paper for the final print to enhance both the visual appeal and texture of the illustrations.

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After completing the final layout with text, I sent the file to Chelsea Print Service for print proof to check the quality and identify any potential errors in the content. Although I selected a slightly yellow-toned paper, I wasn’t satisfied with the final look. Unfortunately, since the Small Publishers Fair was approaching, there wasn’t enough time to find another print service. As a result, I reduced the print run from the planned 10 copies to just 5. At the same time, I also started reaching out to other printing companies to explore additional options.

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As a member of the self-publishing team, I was primarily responsible for managing our Instagram account, gathering information about our books for sale and the shifts at the book fair. To promote our participation in the event, I set up the account in advance, sharing important details such as the time and location of the fair, along with information about our books. This helped us reach our audience and create awareness ahead of the event.

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Participating in the book fair was an eye-opening experience that allowed me to engage directly with the public and other creators. One of my initial goals was to interact with an audience that might connect with my work and to share the process behind creating the book. The experience also gave me the opportunity to test how my publication resonates with different people, which was insightful.

One of the main challenges I faced was the technical issues with the payment system. The day before the event, we discovered that our POS machine wasn’t functioning properly, which left us relying on cash and bank transfers. This limitation caused some inconvenience for customers, and it was a reminder to test all equipment ahead of time to avoid such problems in future events.

In terms of presentation, I realized the importance of creating an engaging table setup. After observing other exhibitors and receiving advice from mentors, I found that it’s not the quantity of books that matters, but the quality and cohesiveness of the display. This realization reinforced the need to carefully curate the presentation of work to draw in people’s interest.

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Success：

1. Informative and Easy to Understand: The book is very informative, and using a comic format helps make the content more accessible and easier for readers to understand.

2. Great Storytelling and Framing: The storytelling is strong, and the way the scenes are framed helps to guide the reader through the narrative effectively.

3. Comfortable Pacing: The pacing of the book gradually slows down at key moments, which makes the reading experience feel especially comfortable and allows readers to reflect on the content.

4. Effective Integration of Text and Image: The combination of text and images works well together to convey the intended message clearly and effectively.

Advice：

Add Color to Key Panels: Consider adding color to a few panels that you feel are particularly important. This will draw attention to those moments and highlight significant details or emotions.

Font and Image Harmony: The choice of font and how it interacts with the artwork could be improved. Ensure that the font style and size complement the illustrations, so the overall design feels more cohesive.

Add Text and Small Illustrations on the First Page: The first page could benefit from some additional text and small drawings to engage the reader right from the start. This will create a stronger visual interest and set the tone for the rest of the book.

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In my Public Dissemination group, I joined the self-publishing team because I saw self-publishing as a really flexible and creative way to get my work out there. We learned a lot about the whole self-publishing process, from printing and binding to promoting and selling our work at book fairs. We also did some research by checking out indie bookstores to understand how they work and think about the look we wanted for our own projects. This gave us tons of ideas and inspiration for the final presentation.

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The self-publishing process was much more challenging than I initially expected, with a lot of trial and error to perfect it. However, the sense of accomplishment when I finally held the finished product was incredibly rewarding.

In the short term, I plan to explore more ways to showcase my work, like reaching out to local bookstores or sharing an e-version on social media platforms aimed at international students. In the long term, I aim to continue gaining experience and create more high-quality, memorable publications.

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Bloomsbury Book Fair, London

Date: December 8, 2024

Location: Holiday Inn, Coram Street, London

Details: Featuring rare and secondhand books, manuscripts, prints, and more.

International Contemporary Artists Book Fair, Berlin

Date: May 2025 (Exact dates TBD)

Location: Berlin, Germany

Details: A well-regarded event for showcasing contemporary artists' books, zines, and independent publishing.

Edinburgh Independent Publishing Fair, Edinburgh, UK

Date: June 2025 (Exact dates TBD)

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

Details: A fair dedicated to independent publishing and zine culture.

London Art Book Fair

Date: September 2025 (Exact dates TBD)

Location: Whitechapel Gallery, London

Details: A renowned event for art books and limited editions, perfect for showcasing artistic publications.