Horizon Magazine hosted the launch party for their Spring 2019 publication, “The Blooming Issue” on April 22 at The Ale House.
The very first copies of the magazine were distributed among contributors and guests. Activities and photo opportunities were also available at the event. The party took place in the back room of The Ale House, spreading onto the back patio.
Megan Dirksen, Horizon Magazine’s Editor in Chief, said the process of the magazine’s production began last semester when they hired the staff. Usually editors are hired for a full academic year, but with many of the staff members graduating in December, changes had to be made to the schedule.
“We wanted to make sure we had an idea and our stories already set in stone last semester, so we had our first meeting at the end of last semester,” Dirksen said. “We had everything picked out before school even started.”
This semester’s issue also required a meeting with the printing company to discuss different elements in the magazine, such as perforated pages.
“We go talk to the printer, figure out if they can do everything that we have ideas for, and then we get prices and everything,” Dirksen said. “From there, we assign stories to contributors and work on that for half the semester.”
Lucas Vader for The Criterion 
Lucas Vader for The Criterion
Some stories also implemented multimedia elements, such as the feature on CMU alumnus and two-time Grammy winner Kalani Pe’a. The full KMSA interview with him was available through a QR code printed into the magazine.
“I’m probably most proud of the Grammy story that me and Kacey Sinton worked on,” Horizon writer Mia Shumway said. “I was able to compile the audio components so that you’re actually able to scan a QR code in the story.”
Shumway said the launch party’s theme matches up with the magazine’s aesthetic — growth and blooming, represented at the event by flower seeds and succulents.
“The whole magazine’s been about growth […] so it’s been cool to tie it in with the launch party,” Shumway said. “We talked about the growth on campus, about local growers, about local people growing their own business.”
The front cover of the magazine depicts a bouquet of various flowers. The photos were taken at the botanical gardens and photography editor Brenna Rhiness edited them together to create the colorful effect.
To further enhance the spring and blooming theme, the launch party took place in an outdoor area of The Ale House, where trees were blooming and plants were flowering. Although the patio area cannot be reserved, the launch party reserved a covered area and allowed the activities to spill over into the back patio.
“We wanted it outdoors somewhere, but we were worried if it was going to rain,” Dirksen said. “I felt like having it at The Ale House really fit our theme.”
Lucas Vader for The Criterion 
Lucas Vader for The Criterion
For the staff and contributors of Horizon Magazine, the launch party was the culmination of months of hard work. Those who put all of the magazine’s aspects together could see the final product and share it with friends.
“The proudest moment was having people come up to me at the launch party and tell me how much they like [the magazine] and that they can see the progression of what we’d done throughout the semester,” Dirksen said.
Horizon Magazine publishes once a semester and is comprised of student editors, writers, photographers, illustrators and designers. The production of the magazine takes place throughout the semester. Students interested in participating can attend meetings to learn more.
