This year, I had the privilege of stepping into the role of co-editor for Seegull, previously called BUMF, our university’s student-led magazine. AUB’s BUMF magazine had been on a hiatus for almost two years before the decision to revive it was made, and I was lucky enough to be a part of this process.
When the relaunch of the magazine was announced, I was immediately interested. My art practice reflects my interests in storytelling and cultural diversity, so I knew this would be a great opportunity to explore these ideas. The name Seegull was chosen by a vote from the entire team to pay homage to Bournemouth and to create a sense of visual familiarity.
The early stages of the revival were both exciting and daunting and as editors, my partner and I had to act as both facilitators and creatives. The first step was gathering a team of writers, artists, designers and social media managers, all eager to be part of something collaborative. The energy within the room during our first meeting really stood out to me. I could feel the excitement from every student present; it felt like a spark that we were all excited to turn into a flame!
We took care not to impose rigid boundaries and instead encouraged conversation that eventually evolved into a theme. As this was a student-led initiative, it was important that we let them interpret it in their own, unique ways. Many submitted their work to be featured – and one such piece became our front cover.
Working as an editor for this magazine was a process of trial and error for me. I quickly learned the similarities between editing and curating during this process. We had to take time to understand what each contributor had to say and help them shape it into its best version. Each page of the magazine required a different amount of editorial help – some were perfect as they were, while some required a longer back and forth. The support of the whole team made this process easier, as we were all clear about our shared mutual goal of creating a collaborative magazine that reflected the student community of AUB.
Of course, every team has its own challenges. The contributors of Seegull all faced time constraints, formatting issues, late submissions and more, but these challenges only taught us more at every turn. I was reminded that any creative process, especially in a team, takes time, and that’s ok! The time taken only helped us make sure the end result was as close to perfection as possible.
The first time I saw the printed version of the magazine was surreal. While flicking through it, I realised it perfectly reflected the effort of our team’s work. We had successfully revived a platform, and Seegull was the physical proof.
I felt my belief in student-led platforms was reaffirmed while acting as the co-editor for Seegull. These spaces are not only vital, but also act as a training ground for the future professionals. They allow us to experiment, collaborate and make mistakes without fear, which is hard to find in this rapidly shifting industry.
I’m sure me and the entire team of Seegull magazine will remember this experience and carry forward all the lessons it taught us. It was an important step forward in our individual careers, and I can only hope that the magazine continues to inspire all those who contribute towards it in the future.
