Dear Readers,

In Flux—a play on “influx”—refers to the constant motion, change and complexity of our lives and times. As a Gen-Z magazine staff, we consider global as well as local issues and the connections between them. We aim to reach the curious with stories about the old and the new, from buildings to businesses, and address universal human experiences.


We’d like to thank our instructors, Sharon and Jo-Nell, for their patience working with a melting pot of majors this semester. This magazine combines the research and storytelling skills of journalists with the creative and technical skill sets of designers, illustrators, photographers and developers, who collaborated to transform initial ideas into an interactive digital magazine. Thank you to our incredible class of hardworking individuals. The students remain the heartbeat of this publication.


As we crafted this project from the ground up, we allowed our ideas and perspectives as individuals to flow into each other and out into the world. We challenged ourselves as a team to tell stories with a lasting impact through perspectives different from our own. We found our stories in the clouds, on flat-screen TVs, and in the people we met. We found inspiration in social media and connection through digital devices. Our stories weave through the fine fabrics of fashion sustainability and are grounded in the historic structures of Chicago.


It is incredibly rewarding to share these stories. We hope they enrich and expand the perspectives of our audience as much as they did our own.

Like the rest of the world, we are constantly in flux.