Case Study: Feral Magazine, Issue 1 / A Self-Initiated Project in Global Publishing

Project Overview
As the founder and sole creative force behind Feral Magazine (aka Heavy Feral), I managed the entire lifecycle of its first issue, from initial concept to final distribution. My roles included founder, creative director, photographer, designer, writer, and publisher. The objective was to create a tangible print artifact for a niche queer audience in a post-pandemic, digital-first world.

The Challenge
The market lacked authentic, long-form queer narratives in print. Digital media often flattens these stories. The challenge was to create a physical, collectible object that offered depth, permanence, and an unfiltered perspective, moving beyond the ephemeral nature of an online feed.

The Process: From Concept to Execution
The project was executed in four distinct phases, all managed directly by me. The core concept was "The Opposite of Domestication," a direct response to mainstream cultural sanitisation. I defined a hyper-niche audience and developed a print-first strategy centred on creating a high-value, limited-edition artifact. This positioned the magazine as a collectible piece of art rather than a disposable periodical.


1. Content Development & Photography
I sourced, developed, and produced 15 original stories spanning four continents. This involved travelling to conduct interviews and photo shoots in locations including Brazil, South Africa, Germany, France, and the USA. The content mix was intentionally diverse, including:

• Candid interviews and conversations.
• Documentary-style photo essays.
• Collaborations with performance artists.
• Written pieces on cultural topics like digital censorship.
  
  
  
  • Design & Publication
    I designed the 180-page magazine from cover to cover. The art direction was minimalist, using a modern typographic system (Dunbar Tall, Swear Display) and a clean grid to ensure the photography and narratives remained the central focus. The selection of high-quality Munken paper was a key decision to enhance the tactile experience and reinforce the project's premium, archival quality.
    
    
  • Production & Logistics
    I managed the entire production process, from editing and proofreading to liaising directly with the printer (Druckerei Rüss, Potsdam). This included overseeing press checks to ensure colour accuracy and print quality met the project's standards. I also established the e-commerce platform and managed global fulfilment.

2. The Execution: A One-Man, Four-Continent Creative Agency
This project was a comprehensive exercise in brand creation, executed from concept to completion. My role encompassed the full spectrum of creative and strategic responsibilities:

• • Creative Direction & Concept: Developing the core mission, tone of voice, and the overarching theme of "Feral, not famous."
  • Global Production & Photography: Planning and executing 15 distinct photoshoots and interviews across four continents, including Brazil, Poland, Germany, the USA, France, and South Africa.
  • Journalism & Writing: Conducting in-depth interviews, transcribing conversations, and writing the majority of the editorial text to capture the authentic voices of the subjects.
  • Art Direction & Graphic Design: Designing the entire 180-page magazine, including layout, typography, cover design, and branding for both HEAVY FERAL and the website.
  • Curation & Collaboration: Sourcing and curating work from contributing artists like Marc Turlan, martt, and Anton Collatéral to build a cohesive, multi-voiced issue.
  • Digital Strategy & Web Development: Designing and building the digital home for the brand at heavyferal.com.
  • Marketing & Distribution: Managing the launch, social media presence (@heavyferal), and global sales and distribution of the limited edition print run.