Late into 2024, I found an idea on TikTok to turn your year into a magazine. The project was a perfect intersection of writing, scrapbooking, graphic design, and documental work. As a blogger, I love writing about my life, opinions, and projects but I have relied on social media to share pictures from the year. Even for my big Tokyo/Seoul trip, I curated posts to share with my followers despite my numerous blog posts.
As Instagram evolved away from connecting friends and more to ads and e-commerce, my posts have felt more shallow and meaningless. Most likes are from people I can’t remember the last time I saw them in person. Someone might suggest, “just don’t post on Instagram” or “delete your account.” But I love taking high-quality photos and it’s hard to think they will just be hidden away in the black hole of my photos app. The magazine project offered an alternative to “do it for the ‘gram.” I could continue to document my life in a creative way that was free of the claws of Meta.
I also love the physical aspect of this project. These photos deserve to be printed! I don’t envy the time when all pictures had to be developed and stored, but there is something about elevating the select few. Our digital age has deprived us of flipped-through memories. Ironically, I’m giving you access to the digital version of these memories but mostly to inspire you to print out your photos. Don’t worry, this isn’t my diary! It is written for a public audience. Please enjoy and get inspired by my 2024 Year In Review.
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