Evaluation Fanzine By Liberty Whitehorn

1. Evaluation
By Liberty Whitehorn

2. Research
Within the research section of this project, I researched into different fanzines. This was so
I could gather the basic conventions of a fanzine so it would help me construct mine to a
professional level. From my research I discovered that there was a continuous pattern
through out the whole fanzine. This is shown with the colour schemes, context and
graphics/photos included. Their aren’t many conventions to a fanzine as it is very free
willed. I found my research helped as it helped with where to position stuff on my fanzine
by making the theme consistent. This lead for me to create lay out plans. This helped
structure my work, however I didn’t follow the lay out plans. This is because I produced
graphics for my front cover and worked the font around it. This meant having to change my
initial plan of positioning, but my work has turned out more effective.
From my research, I also discovered a lot of new facts about Jeffrey Dahmer which has
lead for me to display how gruesome the murders he carried out were. This has been
displayed in my writing for my fanzine. I tried to make the fanzine factual, but I have
included the gruesome details in so people understand how disgusting he was.
I also had to research into Dahmers family to try and gain a better understanding of why
Dahmer is the way he is. This allowed me to watch interviews including Dahmers father.
This gave me a better understanding of how disturbed he was, even as a child. This
research made my facts strong due to trying to always find two resources which
corresponded the same information.
From my research on Dahmer I produced a accurate interview. I did this by watching a
interview with Dahmer and thinking of questions which I wanted answering. This allowed
me to get a more accurate interview by knowing what was going through Dahmers head at
the time. Overall, my research was successful.

3. Planning
Within the planning section for this project, I found it hard to find inspiration. This was because
we had so much free will with what we could design. However, after conducting research, It
became easier to find inspiration on what to create a fanzine on, which allowed my planning to
be easier.
To start with I began to create a mind map which allowed me to brainstorm my ideas into
categories. This allowed me to simplify my plans which helped when it came to production.
This is because it gave me bullet points to follow, which made it easier to create lay outs. This
also helped with my research because it gave me a basis of what I needed to gather
information on. This was successful because it gave me the key facts to research which has
worked well with my production by making it effective. The research I conducted for pure facts
were from different sources. This was because it made the overall fanzine non bias. However,
I did include the gory details to make Dahmer seems disgraceful.
After planning I began to conduct looking into fonts and colour schemes. For the colour
scheme I tried to select darker colours. This was because it was a dark subject on a murderer.
This is why I felt it would be interesting if I made the overall fanzine dark and twisted.
However, once I started creating my fanzine the whole colour scheme changed. This is
because I went with a orange and black. This was because the orange worked well with trying
to clearly show that Jeffrey Dahmer was a killer who went to jail. This section I should improve
on, as I should be following an exact plan. This is so it makes my work more effective and
professional. I also didn’t plan much for colours used for the graphic illustration of Dahmer.
This would of been useful to plan before hand and would of saved me time in production.
I also experimented on different fonts to use. I tried to go for fonts that were mysterious and
detective like. This is because it helps reflect my theme more. It worked well with my fanzine,
but I feel like I could of experimented with this aspect more. Overall, my planning was
successful but could do with some improvements.

4. Time Management
My time management for this project was effective but I did struggle at times. This is because I planned
my time effectively with what to do in production each week. This allowed me to hand my work in on the
deadline. I tried to stick to this schedule but adapted to the needs of the fanzine through out. I tried to take
my time with each individual illustration I completed. This was because it would mean less time for
improvements in the long run.
For the illustration of Dahmer, that took me a whole week to produce due to how much detail was required
for the piece. This was because I tried to give the illustration a hand drawn sketch effect. This worked
effectively, but I feel like I could of completed more experiments with this design before production. This is
so that I would be able to create a high standard piece in a quicker time. This postponed my production
which set me behind a bit. However, I began to gain more experience through out production. This sped
my progress up when it came to creating other illustrations. For example: the handcuffs. I then repeated a
lot of the illustrations through out so that I had more time to concentrate on other pages of the fanzine.
The one page in my fanzine which took longer than normal was the evidence page. This was because I
had to do more research into the lay out of a evidence page. This then lead for me to draw a lot of
different boxes which created a lot of layers on photoshop. This became confusing through out. I then
wanted to use the graphic pad to create a hand written effect to the report. I found this difficult. I feel like I
should have practiced this before due to it taking up a lot of my time in production. This shows I needed to
plan more effectively so that I don’t cross these hurdles.

5. Technical Qualities
Fonts:
The font used in my fanzine includes different sizes for each individual
letter. This adds mystery and links to the crime aspects of my fanzine.
This is similar to the professional fanzine, but the font is more military
styled. This is because the fanzine is suppose to look based in the
1980’s. Both fonts have included one bold colour to make the fonts stand
out.
Images:
The images used for my fanzine is a modern day version of
the professional fanzine. I have tried to make mine look
modern but hand drawn to give off a old fashion appeal but
by keeping it modern. Where as for the professional fanzine
you can see it is suppose to look old fashioned.
Both of these fanzines have very similar aspects to them. This is because we have both
used fonts that represent different letter differently. This helps identify the fanzine as being
a crime based one. The images used are different in the sense of the professional fanzine
is more violent. However, the similarities are that the main image features aspects of what
the fanzine will include inside. Mine is on one individual killer, where as the professional
fanzine is on killers over time.

6. Aesthetic Qualities
For the Aesthetics of my fanzine, I feel like this was a strong aspect. This is because I took my
time editing illustrations and creating graphics which have been included through out. For the
front cover, as you can see I have created a life like edit of Jeffrey Dahmer himself. I feel like
the colours I’ve used to shade and create him have worked effectively. However, I feel like I
should of improved the colour I’ve used for his skin on the chest. This is because it’s a grey
colour. Even though I feel like this works effective, I feel like I could of worked with this better.
I’ve also included the main graphics as a mug shot of Dahmer. This is because I feel like it
displays that he is a criminal without reading into the fanzine. This helps clearly display what
the topic of the fanzine is. One aspect which helps display this is the height chart behind him.
This is because whilst being investigated they gather information like your height so that its on
the police system. I’ve also included polaroid pictures of the victims in the corner. This is
because one of Dahmer’s rituals was to photograph his victims. I felt like this relevance creates
a effective illustration. This is because it makes the reader question why they’ve been placed
there. This is then explained through out the fanzine. The font style I’ve used is effective to.
This is because the text is a bit distorted. I feel like this adds to the mystery of the fanzine. The
font also seems hand written which goes with the style of the front cover. I’ve highlighted the
font in orange so that it creates more depth. It also makes it stand out compared to the orange
prison top Dahmer is wearing.
Overall, I feel like the aesthetics have worked well. I feel like what I could improve on is the
colours used. I feel like if I planned this more effectively it would of made my work more
effective.

7. Aesthetic Qualities
As you can see to your left I have placed a photo of one of my double
page spreads for my fanzine. I feel like the aesthetics for this section
of my fanzine was effective and interesting. I’ve made the timeline so
that it is fun to follow which is unusual but effective. I’ve created a red
colour scheme so that it made the page seem gory. This links with the
topic I am discussing through out this page being about Dahmers
victims. Whilst creating this timeline I wanted to make it different to
other time lines. This is so it was more interesting. I tried to make it
more like a police investigation. I used the reds to highlight the dates
which worked effectively. After completing the timeline there was
empty spaces which needed t be filled. This lead for me to create the
graphics for a hand. This adds to the gore of the page which links to
the theme effectively.
I then decided to include blood splatters on the top of the page to again add to the gruesome theme. This works effectively
because it instantly shows that the topic discussed on this page is gory and bloody.
I feel like with this page I could of planned it more effectively. This is because I struggled to know what graphics to include in the
overall pages. This lead for me to repeat the polaroid's to save time in production. This again would become better with planning
and would make the overall page more effective.

8. Feedback

9. Feedback 1
1) What do you like about the fanzine?
I really like how it’s laid out professionally like an actual police report at times and uses many images to keep it
entertaining. The timeline is also quite an interesting and slightly unusual addition that makes it quite fun to read
through and explore. I also like the use of full page images in this context as it seems to add to the design on a
whole.
1) What do you think could be improved?
I feel like some of the wording could be proof read, as it can get a little confusing. “Dahmer lured and drugged
Anthony Sears by strangling him”? I also feel that maybe you could have changed up your illustrations a little as
you have used the same image of handcuffs many times, it works better as the patterned background than on the
side of the page in different sized and positions, I feel.
1) Does this subject appeal to you?
Personally, this subject does appeal to me quite a bit as I quite like the topic of serial killers and find it interesting
to see how they lived and got away with certain things. It also seems to feel like it gives me an insight into other
people’s minds to see what they do with the bodies.

10. Feedback 2
1) What do you like about the fanzine?
2) Its really interesting to read, as I have never heard of him before. Its thrilling but it makes you want to read on and
there is loads of facts and photographs, I also really like the arrest reports. I like the fact the last picture you have is of
him and you can see his actual face.
3) What do you think could be improved?
4) Maybe a variety of fonts as the same one is used for the big bits of text but it doesn’t make much difference, the fonts
all look good. Maybe mix up your illustrations a tiny bit and drawings as they’re used quite a lot.
5) Does this subject appeal to you?
6) Yes it’s disturbing but he is interesting to read about especially his interview, its interesting to know about serial killers
and their personal thoughts.

11. Feedback 3
1) What do you like about the fanzine?
2) I love that every page is different from one another. Each page has its own style and fits the subject very well. I
especially like how you have created a case file look to a few of the pages, this also fits the theme very well. I
like that you have lots of information on the victims, and the crime scene as well as Dahmer himself. I also
really like that you have a collage on the back cover to pay respect for each of the victims. I think that, that is
really thoughtful to the victims families and friends.
3) What do you think could be improved?
4) You could add the ages of each of the victims on the back. You could also highlight key bits of information
throughout so that the reader knows that, that word or sentence is an important bit of information.
5) Does this subject appeal to you?
6) Sort of, I find the subject of serial killers fascinating but don’t really go out of my way to research them. I think
the subject of Jeffrey Dahmer is interesting to find out about, as he is a famous killer that is heard of
worldwide.

12. Feedback Evaluation
From my feedback I have concluded both negative and positive aspects of my fanzines. This has allowed me to see
where I needs to improve which will help improve my work in the future.
The positives from the feedback were:
- The illustration on the front.
- That every page was different.
- The timeline is a fun addition to the fanzine.
- The police reports/evidence page.
- Victims Collage.
The negatives from the feedback (Improvements):
- Add the ages of the victims on the back cover.
- Mix the font styles up/illustrations.
- Proof reading my work.
All the feedback I have received has been useful and will help me with future production. I agree with the
positive comments as I spent a lot of time making these pages accurate. I also tried to make sure the theme
was consistent which has proved to work.
I also agree with the improvements too. I feel like I could of thought about different little illustrations to include
and font. This I feel like would come with better planning, which i will make sure to work on in future
production.