Queer Nightlife
Isaac Hatfield
See it On Campus: Level 2
Visitor Info
Project Overview
My project is a deep-dive into queer nightlife in Vancouver: where it started, where it’s going, and everywhere in between. Through this project I strive to tell the story of current queer nightlife in the city, celebrating the inclusive spaces that the community has worked hard to create, and outlining the limitations of the scene and aspects that could improve. My book explores the connection between queer nightlife, introversion, and community building.
I am using this project as an opportunity to connect to my community and get more involved in the local queer nightlife. Through broader cultural research, site research, and design practices, I have developed a better understanding of the scene for myself and others in the community who want to be more involved. Many people don’t know where to find information about queer nightlife and how to create community in the city; my goal is to make it more accessible and welcoming to newcomers.
Book Design
The main deliverable of my project is a book I designed and wrote called Queer Nightlife in the Lonely City. This book features my own writing and photographs which help tell the story of queer nightlife in Vancouver. From historical research to my own current experiences, I explore how queer nightlife functions in the context of Vancouver’s broader social sphere. Vancouver is known for being a hard place to make friends and build community and in this book I investigate why that is and how it affects the queer community. The book is comprised of over 50 Risograph printed pages along with a personal collection of photographs from local queer events.
To read the full book click here
Poster Explorations
Inspired by a large collection of local queer event posters, I designed six of my own posters as chapter covers in my book. For each poster I experimented with different effects to highlight the diverse trends and characteristics that I’ve observed in queer design around the city.
Zine
In addition to the book, I designed a zine of “Queer Nightlife Hotspots” around the city. The goal of this zine is to make queer nightlife more accessible to those who are interested in the events but unsure how to find information. The zine features 24 local venues and organizations that host queer events along with a brief overview of their atmosphere and demographics. The zine also unfolds into a map of local queer nightlife, facilitating easier navigation through the city’s venues.
To read the zine click here
Video
This brief, immersive video offers a peek into local queer nightlife, inviting the audience to experience it firsthand. The video is a compilation of footage from a variety of events I’ve attended over the past few years.
