RE-ACT-ION! Magazine Publication

Reaction! Magazine is a four-series publication based on seasonal activities and things that teens and young adults can do to feel less alone in the world. The reaction of the pandemic that started in 2020 left many of the younger generations feeling isolated and alone. This magazine’s goal was to provide a small form of social recovery from all the time that we spent in isolation.

Magazines and Brand Decisions

The four portions are that the magazine are seasonal, covering things that Minneapolis teens can do in the Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. The magazines follow the parallel formula of pages: 1- cover, 2-3 mission, 4-5 table of contents, 6-7 festivals of the season, 8-9 The Armory concerts and events, 10-11 special locations of the season to do outside, 12-13 Activities to participate in the season, 14-15 do it yourself project to create (two per magazine, one for men and one for women, or can be gender neutral), 16-17 things to do in your downtime at home, 18-19 mental and physical fitness interaction portion, 20- back cover. I used factual information to improve mental health for the magazine so Minnesota teens can actively help themselves. The colors I used for the magazines are different for each season and are in a swirl pattern on different pages. The festivals I used for the magazines were off the official Minnesota visitation site, and I kept in mind whether teens would find it fun to attend. In the concerts I used for the magazines, I mainly did musical events and placed photos of popular artists performing that season. I have visited the seasonal locations and enjoyed visiting as a teen, and other teens would also enjoy going to them. The activities for each season are seasonal sports that teens can try out or something fun they can do with friends. The do-it-yourself projects I provided are specified as one for a boy and one for a girl. Depending on the teen's personality, they can actively do both DIY projects, though I didn’t specify that they were gender-based in the actual magazine. In the portion of the magazine where it was stuff they could do at home, I provided examples. The examples were an instrument they could start playing, a book they could start reading, and a meal they could make with their family. I am the proudest of the mental and physical fitness portion of the magazine. This is an interactive portion of the magazine where teens can practice self-improvement and self-care and journal about how those practices made them feel and if they would continue to do self-care.

Purpose

The purpose of this publication is to make a positive impact through the content that is displayed in the magazines. The world can be an uneasy place, but you can make friends anywhere you decide to go. This magazine reinforces this powerful ideology by giving suggestions to struggling Minnesota teens to make the most of the places and events around them.

The Seasonal Magazine Issues: Spring, Summer, Fall, & Winter

Each issue of the magazine follows the same layout but features unique content tailored to the season. The front and back covers consistently showcase REACTION's signature liquified swirl pattern. The first spread presents REACTION's mission statement, outlining the brand's core values and purpose. Following that is the table of contents, leading into seasonal highlights such as featured festivals, concerts at the Armory (a prominent music venue in Minneapolis), DIY projects, travel spots across Minnesota, book recommendations, insights into musical instruments, and a section focused on physical and mental self-care practices.

I manually put in all of the information for every single page of the 80 pages that make up the four magazines (20 pages per magazine), all the content different except for the mission statement spread. I included every single source of information and images that I used in the process book. I feel I could have done more for the posters, but because of the amount of work I put into the magazine I just had to move on. The information that is contained in the magazine are activities and self-care practices that are scientifically backed to improve mental health (see sources for information). Activities that are proven to improve mental health are to be active so I provided seasonal activities, sports, and hobbies. Reading a book improves mental health so I proved a book to read that is in the young adult genre. Places to go to be active, Minnesota has great communities so there were plenty of sources that I could include to visit. Music has been proven to improve mental health just by interaction. I provided concerts teens could go to, to meet friends or just have a good time seeing their favorite artists. I also provided information on how to get started playing a musical instrument, and examples on instruments that they could play. I graduated in the year 2020 and got a normal graduation stolen away from me, so I know how teens feel in this new time of technology and distancing. Making friends is hard to do when you are in a constant battle with your own mind. I just wanted to provide a great magazine to help teens get outside their comfort zone and take on the real world instead of the fake one trapped in the phone in their hand.