From ideas to pages: Jurian Willemen about his work on the online magazine project

Can you describe the project that you are working on? 

Jurian: ‘The project I worked on was an online magazine called Scanda-Less. The magazine aimed to be personal-driven, and we received assistance on this aspect during our storytelling course. The magazine included a Q&A section as one of the items, as well as a "Story of My Life" interview. Additionally, we had the freedom to write a feature story on any topic we chose.’  

‘In the beginning, we brainstormed various controversial themes. One of the chapters focused on the experience of a transgender, comparing the situation in the United States to that in the Netherlands. That story became the Q&A section.’  

'Another story revolved around a young man who was a refugee from Iraq. He shared his experiences of living there and his journey as a refugee, leading up to his pursuit of a university education.’ 

‘Finally, we had a main story on contraception, exploring topics such as male contraception. We conducted extensive research, watched documentaries, and even reached out to scientists studying male contraceptive methods. With all this information, we created a fictional character who was contemplating using contraception and had done their own research on the topic.’ 

What was your role in developing the magazine? 

Jurian: ‘I was part of a group of five people working on the magazine. Before diving into the project, we conducted marketing research to determine the target audience and how to effectively reach them. Our focus was on individuals aged 18-23 who were active on social media.’ 

‘All five of us wrote different stories for the publication. Our lecturer, Assen Panov, helped us with the final editing, especially in terms of maintaining a consistent tone and voice throughout the magazine. Writing the main story with multiple contributors was quite a challenge. In addition to writing, I also worked as an illustrator, creating drawings for the magazine's background.’  

'At the beginning of the semester, things were quite chaotic with multiple tasks to handle simultaneously. However, as time progressed, everything started to come together. We had to manage aspects of management, design, storytelling, and marketing. Our work was evaluated based on these elements. Throughout the process, we received guidance from our lecturers and worked as a team to ensure the successful completion of the project.’  

What are your future plans after completing this project and your studies?  

Jurian: ‘While I enjoyed the project and the opportunity to explore different aspects of the creative industry, I realized that working in the magazine industry is not exactly my thing. But it was great to have the chance to try out various areas and see what suits me best.’  

‘The semester I am in right now focusses more on filmmaking, which I really enjoy. After completing my studies at BUas, I may consider gaining more technical knowledge in filmmaking. Currently, I am focusing on developing my skills in marketing and management. I believe that having a well-rounded understanding of different areas will benefit me in the long run.’ 

 

For those who would like to learn more about Jurian, you can check out his LinkedIn profile.