It's Over

It’s over.

Officially the end. For the past three years, if you knew me, you likely knew Zipped Magazine, and I am so privileged, honored and proud to be associated with it. From the minute I stepped onto this campus, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. There was such an allure to Zipped, this tight-knit, accomplished group that ran this magazine while executing and creating professional level art. Freshman me, a dual major studying graphic design and marketing management, never thought I would be sitting here, writing my final editor’s letter.

For my last issue, I always had an idea of what I wanted to do: create something so insanely colorful and chaotic that viewers could not help but smile. I wanted to create a complete contrast from our previous issue: taking our collective outrage and emotion from 2020, and converting it into pure artistic chaos and creation. I was tired of focusing on the darkness and dread stemming from the pandemic, and had the idea to create an alternate fantasy or reality: the world returning to ‘normal.’

My team and I ideated the things that brought us the greatest amounts of happiness in life, as well as the things we cannot wait to do once the world is safe again. That is how we came up with the title, The Climax, as well as our three overarching themes: sex, drugs and fashion. As we started piecing the content and concepts together, this edition started to embody the word fearless: completely pushing the boundaries, creating the unexpected, while still somehow still achieving complete cohesion. I knew I wanted to make something that would stand out, and looking back, I think we did.

For our cover star, we were lucky enough to feature Marilyn Minter; painter, photographer, activist and one of my greatest inspirations. With so many lows and so much uncertainty, creating this issue and working with my Zipped family has brought me so much joy and so many opportunities I could have never imagined.

I hope this magazine inspires those who need it. I hope it shows the growth, drive, and passion we, the Zipped community, have evolved into over the years. And I hope it serves as a testament that genuine artistic talent often speaks much louder than education. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my journey, saw my potential, and encouraged me to never stop creating. Continue to chase the highs and follow your vision <3

<3 Lauren (Lu) Hurwitz