“Rise”

Experimental Publication Design

“Rise” is an original experimental gardening publication I created in Spring-Summer of 2021. The purpose of this project was to combine the subject of an original publication with the medium it is presented on. The publication focuses on gardening, more specifically hydroponic cultivation of wildflowers. I achieved this by printing all 24 pages on custom paper which contained wildflower seeds embedded within it. The paper was handmade, and woven with the necessary nutrients for the seeds to grow and thrive by simply gentle misting and sunlight. I put an emphasis on the textural experience of the project as it relates to gardening itself. The paper is soft and non-uniform, including visible fibers and the seeds. Subscribers of the publication are encouraged to tear apart the booklet once finished and grow their own wildflowers using the paper.

The publication features opinion editorial articles relating to gardening from independent writers. Each spread relates to the topic matter of their writing in a way that exemplifies the emotion and thought behind it. Likewise, six spreads within the booklet are botanical profiles of the specific wildflowers able to be grown from these pages. “Rise” would be shipped to subscribers within a custom etched biodegradable box designed to perfectly hold a ripped page. This box continues the theme of the publication by re-purposing it’s interior print to create a seamless hinge.

Every element used in the “Rise” publication was original, created by Ethan Carhuapoma.

Summer 2021

Spreads and Photos Below