Zine by Zine Workshop Report

Have you ever wanted to make a zine?  

At the end of August 2025, FabCafe Tokyo held the workshop Zine by Zine, where participants expressed their creative liberty through zines. The idea was straightforward: to create a relaxed space for individuals to unleash their creativity, share their stories, and walk away with a finished zine in hand.

Zines have always been a unique way for individuals to share their stories. They’re small, DIY booklets that allow creators to express their personal thoughts and ideas without the limitations of traditional publishing. Since zines aren’t a defined concept, they offer the freedom to create without constraints. For many participants, this was their first experience working with zines, and it was encouraging to see how nervousness transformed into confidence throughout the workshop.

Prompts that were shown during the workshop.

The workshop served as a laid-back approach to zine-making. The goal was for everyone to walk away with their own zine to show off, while also feeling energized about being able to finish something and share their stories without the pressure of achieving perfection.

The session started with some introductions and a quick introduction to zines. When participants were asked if they had any ideas for their zines, no one raised a hand. Some prompts were provided to help get the creative juices flowing. Everyone sketched out storyboards on prepared worksheets and played around with simple layouts.

The range of zine ideas was impressive. Some put together illustrated stories about the week’s weather, while others made text-only zines cataloging their favorite idols. Interestingly, even though many participants started with one of the suggested prompts, most ended up branching out into their own ideas. While the prompts were a great way to get people moving, the real magic happened when participants riffed on them, combining and remixing multiple ideas, or even ignoring them entirely in favor of something unexpected.

A participant showing off their storyboarding worksheet.

The room had a relaxed vibe, with people focused but also chatting away. Some individuals were wandering around, sharing ideas and tips, while others were engrossed in sketching and folding their projects.  

One participant spent some time checking out the pen plotter, intrigued by its capabilities, but eventually chose a different route. He ended up sketching and folding a design that transformed into a poster, embracing one of the prompts in a personal way. It demonstrated how the prompts could provide a little nudge without imposing restrictions, allowing everyone to put their own spin on things.

Another person jumped right on the pen plotter, scanning a drawing and then adding color by hand. The mix of machine precision and personal touch made the piece feel unique, a blend of mechanical and human creativity. 

Then there was someone who kept insisting they couldn’t draw and were not creative. However, as soon as they found an idea they wanted to pursue, they created something surprising and inspiring. Their process proved that zines are about curiosity and self-expression, not technical skills.

At the end of the workshop, a few people decided to show off their zines to the group. Like the workshop itself, presentations were also casual: people held their work up to a camera that projected onto the big screen while describing each panel. One of the participants’ hands shot up when asked who wanted to share. He presented his simple lineart zine with such confidence and flair that his energy set a positive tone for the rest of the group. Two other participants showed their creations to the group, presenting to an encouraging and curious audience.

Several people came to the workshop feeling unsure about their creative skills, but they departed with a whole new perspective. According to one participant, “It was amazing to be creative and tap into my inner child, kind of like going back to arts and crafts.”
Meanwhile, others who were already comfortable with being creative in other artistic mediums used the workshop as a chance to experiment with a new format.

The workshop demonstrated that being a pro isn’t necessary to be creative. Sometimes, it’s all about allowing yourself the opportunity to play, try new things, and actually complete something.