What is a book?
Definition of a Book -
a written or printed work consisting of pages glued or sewn together along one side and bound in covers.
a bound set of blank sheets for writing in.
For this study task we have to anaylse purpose, production and success of a range of publications that will then effect the design of our own publications. To do this i have decided to research book design and layout for the studio brief 2, this will give me in an idea of what type of book to produce, how imagery, layout and type is used in book design and how it effects the success of the book to then apply this to my final out come.
Existing Book Research
As i have never created a book layout before, for this project i conducted research into existing book design via Pinterest and Behance. This was conducted to see how existing artist and designer add detail to their page design, the features that artist include to make their pages more balanced using text and imagery. How rules can be broken but how they are followed, seeing this will influence my designs as it will allow me to apply these techniques and rules to my work to enhance the design aspects of my pages when i create a my book.
Also looking into existing books will help me decide on a subject area for this project, get design inspiration for the content as well as the layout. The layout of this book is the focus of the project so selecting a subject that allows me control over the page design and fits with a concept will be the most effective.
Since the content is still undecided, for research a varied selection of book have been looked at. Book range for fashion look book to type help books, when a concept and idea have been selected more research will be conducted into how books of that style already are designed and how to make mine original.
Simple photo heavy book, this book using a grid system to alpine the text on both sides of the page adding detail to the simple yet organised layout. Each page is displayed in the same way to keep a consisting house style, fitting with the theme of a clear serious yet feminine book thats strict grid system highlights the seriousness. This book stick to a very clean grid that give the design an effortless effect as its very direct to read and understand. The alinement of the type is the same on every page reducing the need for the audience to look for type or the imagery that makes the book flow easier on the brain, this makes the images appear as a set rather than each being focus on as a individual object/image, breaking this layout would cause attention to be grabbed as it would cause the audience to stop. Its clear to from the layout that the focus of the pages (the imagery), this is because the designer has placed it at the top of the page which is the first place the audience will look to read any text and it takes up a larger percentage of the page that the text, white space is then added underneth to appear as break before the text, this separate the text and the imagery making them stand out as different elements on the page rather than a caption or linked information. The typeface used is a very thin natural font, that has curved letterform to imply a softer more feminine feel to the pages, this also makes the book seem casual even thought the text is capitals which sully invokes and angry/shouting implication. The text is clean, smooth and has a light feel because of the typefaces thin design, this doesn't distant from the imagery as its not bold, the reader can read it easily without any distancing features, the typeface has been elected to enhance the imagery not distract.
curved typefaces are less harsh
consistent style make it sen like a set
having the alinement the same makes it effortless to read
busy imagery needs whitespace to seem less over powering
make the images the focus by using a minimal layout and typeface
purpose - the purpose of this book is to display a set of photography images about natural communication and it effects.
production - This book has bee produced and design to see very eco friendly, its peaceful and oranigised to reflect this, there are no harsh/defining colour to reflect harmony and peace.
success - the layout and the colour scheme used for this book fulfills it purpose as it has the aimed effects on the audeince
This book keeps a constsit design style the make it easier to read, all the text is kept in the same place on every page so is the imagery to make the design seem more effortless to read, there is no text grabbing attention or being overly loud to fit with the calming style of the book. The theme of this book is calm and tranquil place to visit so the design reflect this by being very smooth and easy to read, the colour scheme is kept minimal, fonts are very curved and thin, busy imagery is balanced out with white space to reduce to loud content in them. This book shows how whitespace around imagers has a calming effect by balancing out the busy design. Each double page spread has a colour split to separate the text from the imagery but the grid system is used to aline up the text on the same levels with the photography to link it back together, the colour difference might just be add interest to the otherwise simple design. This also allowed the tex to be white against bold colour background which stand out more than a coloured text on a white background, meaning the text is easier to see and read which fits with the calming design principles of the book.
use grid to link pages together
white space balanced out busy images
have a theme for my design ( e.g. calming)
Here the artist using contrasting colour, bold text, clashing font styles, breaks design rules, has orphans and widows to grab attention from the audience. Each page in the book uses a different colour scheme and typeface over the simple gridded layout, this makes each page seem as an individual even with a underlaying grid system, breaking these rules makes the audience seem as if the book is almost shouting at them. Even thought each page is full and busy, it is balanced out but whitespace to make sure that there is just one main focal point which is the headline text. The pages use a headline font that is consistence thought the pages which is alined in the same place but the overlaps a different hand rendered typeface to add individuality, this break in the grid system grabs attention as it don't stick the pattern and make the audience engage more with the pages the design intents. This is a way to make the audience stop at selected pages for example section pages or where the designer wants. The way this book combines hand rendered with digital text isn't overpowering as the other parts of the page are empty, only two design elements are used on the busy pages to make sure the design isn't too much for the reader and to make sure they focus on the intent parts. The text is the focus so this is drawn attention to this via the size, thickness and whitespace around it, the rest of the deign in the book is very minimal to not distract.
combine contrasting type styles but keep the rest simple
break rules to draw attention
pages being different colours sections them of as individual
keep the colour scheme dramatic but then the design simple
use white space to make it seem less busy
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