Book Plan
I need to make some sort of plan for how the book will be arranged to help me put it together and work out how it will be printed.
Based on the research I have done on book design, I knew that I wanted to create something unique, different to what I had done before. The easy option for this brief would have been creating a hot dog fold or something that I already knew how to do, but I decided to create my own book shape with a mix of folds and a pocket inside. I had thought about binding the book, as we did in our induction in first year, but I knew realistically that I probably wouldn't have time for this.
I looked up the dictionary definitions for geometric, and then decided this may look good as a visual element in my book. I want to make sure the patterns are the focus but I will have to include some text to explain what the book is actually about. I am going to call it 'geometric beauty', I had thought about cliches to do with shapes but decided against it.
Based on the research I have done on book design, I knew that I wanted to create something unique, different to what I had done before. The easy option for this brief would have been creating a hot dog fold or something that I already knew how to do, but I decided to create my own book shape with a mix of folds and a pocket inside. I had thought about binding the book, as we did in our induction in first year, but I knew realistically that I probably wouldn't have time for this.
I looked up the dictionary definitions for geometric, and then decided this may look good as a visual element in my book. I want to make sure the patterns are the focus but I will have to include some text to explain what the book is actually about. I am going to call it 'geometric beauty', I had thought about cliches to do with shapes but decided against it.
Font Choices
What font I use is really important as it has to match the theme of the book. I looked through my collection of fonts, and downloaded some more that I thought could be appropriate. After some experimentation, I decided on the font forty-five.
Making the book
These photographs show the stages of development of the mock-up book. Its quite complex but I think that makes it more interesting and allows for different size pages. I like how the book is a hexagon, relating to the theme of the book. I want the book to be made out of lots of different stocks. The pocket I have made is for holding the sticker sheets.
I made this bellyband to hold the book together. I have used a scalpel to cut out the pattern, but I would like to laser cut it out so that the lines are more crisp. I think the pattern is quite simple but don't want to make it too complex.
Development: Photoshop Book Plan
Here is a mock-up of the book design. While the colours work well against the parcel paper, I think the cover will be printed onto thick white card to make it look really clean and professional, however, I will probably use parcel paper inside.
Colour Scheme: Pantone Pastels
Pink: C 2 M 40 Y 0 K 0
Blue: C 40 M 0 7 5 K 0
Green: C 48 M 0 Y 28 K 0
Purple: C 28 M 45 Y 0 K 0
Yellow C 2 M 2 Y 28 K 0
Feedback
As we haven't had a crit about this book, I decided to ask my friends for feedback, especially those who are my 'target audience'.
- Print on to acetate, work out how different patterns can layer on top of each other to create new patterns
- Use a mixture of different stocks
- Define which stock for which pattern and why
- Try more laser cutting on to different areas
- Try foil blocking - could do this for the shapes on the front cover
