Through Our Eyes: The Making of QWIL Print 2024

Malaieka Khan

The fourth edition of WILPower in Print was once again a HUGE success!! But what makes this initiative truly special isn’t just the launch at the end of the six-month engagement—although that’s definitely a major milestone. It’s the way three different minds can come together to craft a cohesive and meaningful story.

At its core, WILPower in Print is about storytelling—the kind we don’t hear every day. It’s an initiative that recognizes that success and power are possible for each of us, no matter what cards we’ve been dealt.

My role in this project was about guiding and supporting. Merging Erika’s beautiful writing with Kam’s intricate designs, my goal was to help bring their vision to life, offering support when needed but knowing when to take a step back. This project taught me a valuable lesson: sometimes, the best leadership means sitting in the back seat rooted in trust. Erika and Kam knew I was there for anything they needed, whether through team calls or 1-on-1 check-ins, but otherwise, they had full creative freedom. 

One of the most important decisions I made was following my instincts on adjusting deadlines for my team’s wellness. In the final days before submission, after multiple rounds of edits, the workload became overwhelming. One team member hadn’t slept more than three hours in days due to personal and academic commitments. At that moment, I knew the right decision wasn’t pushing through at any cost. I immediately called the printing company and negotiated a new deadline—because what good is a publication about finding power and strength through adversity if it comes at the expense of the very creators’ well-being? Not only did we still finish early, but we also had the prints delivered before launch day!

This edition of WILPower in Print reinforced the true power of collaboration, trust, and leading with empathy. I couldn't be prouder of what we created together <3

Erika Singh

Reflecting on my journey as Content Lead for the QWIL magazine this past year, I feel incredibly grateful for the experiences and people I encountered along the way. My role involved a lot of cold calling and scheduling meetings with some of the most amazing and powerful women I have ever met. Each conversation left a lasting impression on me, and I still keep in touch with many of them. Connecting with women who embody strength, resilience, and balance was inspiring, and it pushed me to grow both personally and professionally.

One of the most unexpected yet memorable moments happened over the summer when I was in California. At 6 am, I was woken up by a call from an unknown number. Half asleep, I picked up the phone and quickly realized it was the assistant of one of our contributors, calling to set up a meeting. I had to jump into action right then and there. Moments like that taught me the importance of being ready for anything, and they gave me stories to laugh about later.

When I first took on the role, I was excited but also unsure of how to guide our content vision. Thankfully, I was surrounded by people who offered guidance and support. Kam and Mal were instrumental in helping me develop my skills in writing profiles and feature stories. Writing about other people’s experiences felt daunting at first, but they showed me how to truly embody someone else's voice and story. Their mentorship made me a better writer and leader.

The theme of this year's magazine, lagom, perfectly captured our journey. As a team, we aimed to reflect the essence of balance in life, work, and community. Each contributor brought a unique perspective, reminding me that balance looks different for everyone. Seeing the final product come together was deeply rewarding, especially knowing how much effort and thought went into every page.

As I look ahead to my new role as Print Director, I am filled with excitement. Building on this year’s successes, I am eager to continue fostering creativity, collaboration, and thoughtful storytelling. I know that the upcoming year will bring new challenges and opportunities, but I am ready to embrace them with the same passion and commitment.

Kam Dhillon

More than a year ago, I found myself in France, navigating the excitement and uncertainty of studying abroad. Something I didn’t expect was how deeply that experience would shape my creative outlook and, more personally, how it would help me better understand what balance feels like.

While there, I met an incredible group of women who introduced me to the Swedish concept of Lagom. It’s a word that doesn’t have a perfect English equivalent, but it loosely means “just the right amount.” Not too much, not too little—just right. It’s a simple concept on the surface, but for me, it unlocked a new way of thinking about life. Lagom became more than a word; it became a grounding philosophy and, ultimately, the inspiration behind this year’s print theme.

As I stepped into the role of Creative Lead and began designing these pages, I found myself returning to the visual metaphors that helped me understand Lagom. I kept thinking about Sweden’s archipelagos—intricate clusters of islands, each with their own shape and story. They reminded me of life: full of small moments that, when put together, form something far greater and more meaningful. Like islands in an archipelago, our experiences are unique yet connected, and it’s the connectivity between them that creates balance.

This idea of connection and complexity inspired the line art that runs through the edition. I wanted every line to feel intentional, with each twist and turn representing a decision, a memory, or a moment of growth. Together, they create a visual tapestry of life’s layered and meaningful nature.

Another symbol that kept finding its way into my sketches was the butterfly. I’ve always admired how something so light and fragile can represent transformation. But what struck me most is how a butterfly can only fully reveal its colours when it finds balance. That visual stuck with me. I think many of us live in a constant state of motion, pulled in different directions, trying to hold everything together. I know I do - more than I’d like to admit. But Lagom, this pursuit of “just right” has reminded me that balance isn’t about perfection; it’s about presence. It’s about allowing ourselves to be grounded enough to appreciate the intricacies that life has to offer.

Now, as I enter my final few weeks at Queen’s, I’ve been reflecting on all the beautiful opportunities I’ve had, each filled with its challenges, growth, and moments of uncertainty. This final year has been one of the most transformative periods of my life. There were times I pushed myself too hard, moments I doubted whether I was doing enough, and instances where I forgot to simply pause. But it’s through these experiences that I’ve truly learned the value of balance, not just as a creative principle but as a life practice.

Learning to find lagom is something I haven’t always done naturally. But the lessons from this past year, along with the people, places, and projects that have shaped it, have shown me how vital it is to carry that balance forward. As I prepare to graduate and step into whatever comes next, I’m holding onto this idea of “just right” not as a static state, but as a guiding compass in how I live, create, and connect with others.

This edition of WIL Power in Print is deeply personal to me as it is a reflection of a journey encompassing many stories from inspiring women, creative influences from my personal experiences, Erika’s dedication to telling authentic stories, and Malaieka’s strength in leadership. The friendships I’ve made abroad and the lessons I learned along the way have left a lasting mark on me, which I hope comes through in every detail of this issue.

More than anything, I hope that as you flip through these pages, you feel the essence of Lagom, not as a destination, but as an ongoing journey towards a life that feels just right for you.