Publishing Design: Task #3A — Book
05.10.2021 - 22.10.2021 (Week #7 - Week #9)
Seerat Tayyab Mukhtar Qureshi - 0345576 (BDCM)
Publishing Design
Task #3A— Book
1. Lectures:
3. Book Layout
Next, we had to come up with three different margins for our book format.
Fig 1.1: Book margins
We had to pick the one we liked the most and experiment with the columns and guides. I picked out the second margin and went ahead with it.
Fig 1.2: Columns
Using this we then needed to create grid systems.
Fig 1.3: Grid systems
Lastly, we needed to add our text to observe the space and relationship between the layout and the text.
Fig 1.41: Flowing in the text
We had to try out different fonts after flowing in the text. I tried 3, Neue Montreal, Adobe Caslon and Helvetica Neue. I think Neue Montreal works best because my story is straightforward and non-fiction so I want the font to be clean and professional as well.
Fig 1.42: Type Specimen
Visual reference:
I want my book to have a simple and minimal layout
Fig 1.5: References
I attempted some layouts from my start to the end of chapter 1
Fig 1.6: Attempt #1, JPG
Fig 1.7: Attempt #2, JPG
Fig 1.8: Cover #1
Fig 1.9: Cover #2
Fig 2.0: Cover #3
After feedback, everyone seemed to like the first option (Fig 1.8) the most interesting and intriguing. One of my friends also said she felt it conveyed the message of the world crumbling better than the others. I agreed with their thoughts and then finalised my layout to send to be printed.
Fig 2.1: Printing file
The shop replied to my message a bit late so I am still waiting for the book to be printed.
Below is my final submissions,
Fig 2.2: Final Layout Design Thumbnail 01 (JPG)
Fig 2.3: Final Layout Design Thumbnail 02 (JPG)
Fig 2.4: Final Layout Design Thumbnail (PDF)
Fig 2.5: Final Cover Design (JPG)
Fig 2.6: Final Cover Design (PDF)
Fig 2.7: Final Spread 01 (JPG)
Fig 2.8: Final Spread 02 (JPG)
Fig 2.9: Final Spread 03 (JPG)
Fig 3.0: Final Spread 04 (JPG)
Fig 3.1: Final Spread 05 (JPG)
Fig 3.2: Final Spread 06 (JPG)
Fig 3.3: Final Spread 07 (JPG)
Fig 3.4: Final Spread 08 (JPG)
Fig 3.5: Final Spread 09 (JPG)
Fig 3.6: Final Spread 10 (JPG)
Fig 3.7: Final Spread 11 (JPG)
Fig 3.8: Final Spread 12 (JPG)
Fig 3.9: Final Spread 13 (JPG)
Fig 4.0: Final Spread 14 (JPG)
Fig 4.1: Final Spread 15 (JPG)
Fig 4.2: Final Spread 16 (JPG)
Fig 4.3: Final Spreads Compilation (PDF)
Fig 4.4: Final Book with FlipHTML
I finally received my printed book today as well. I really liked the final outcome and it was definitely worth the wait.
Fig 4.5: Final Book
Fig 4.6: Final Book
Fig 4.7: Final Book
Fig 4.8: Final Book
Fig 4.9: Final Book
Fig 5.0: Final Book Flip through
4. Feedback
Week #6: Mr Vinod said I can afford to be more playful and experimental with my layout. It is a bit too predictable right now since all the text is in the right columns. I can also try a full-page illustration spread for the last page.
Week #7: Mr Vinod gave me 3 things to work on in my layout. The first one is to add some visuals that I cut out so I can get to 32 pages. I need to also add the references list. The second one is to try and add more variation in my pull quote. They are kind of like visuals within themselves and I need to be a bit more expressive with them. Thirdly, is that I can think about introducing a subtle background colour to some of my pages. It can be a colour in my visuals or something complementary to it. I can add it where I feel it is necessary.
5. Reflection:
Week #6: I think the book is coming along nicely, there have been a few hiccups in the layout design especially with the pull quotes but I am trying to be more experimental with them. I am just a fan of everything being super clean and organised which is maybe why I am struggling with it a little bit.
Week #7: I need to continue working on my layout a little bit to help make it a little less predictable. I can definitely see my book coming together and is near completion. I just need to work on some small things and hopefully, it will be done. I look forward to getting it printed and seeing what it looks like.
Week #8: This week was independent learning week and I decided to finalise my book layout and start reaching out to places where I can get it printed and done. I am a bit nervous about it since I have never gotten a book printed before so I am unsure of the process.
Week #9: This week was a public holiday and I reached out to a printing place. I have been talking to them in regards to printing and there has been some delay and I am hoping to get it done by next week. I am excited to see what it will look like.
6. Further Reading
What makes a book... a book?
For this project, I came across this interesting article written by a professional book designer. She explains the importance of book formatting and designing and why it is essential for it to be done well. She also talks about how the process is for professional book designers.
Basically, authors send over their final and complete manuscripts and the designers read them to get a feel of the content and message of the book. It is essential to completely understand the content of the book and through years of experience, designers are able to transform the word document into a complete and final book.
Sometimes, some people or authors may not get the importance of book designing, but once they see the finished product and see the difference in appearance, it’s very easy to understand.
It might not seem like much is happening, like applying a different style to chapter heads, designing copyright pages, and maybe running headers and footers. But it’s all those design details that really make a book a book.
I was interested in book designing as a job and I wanted to know more about it after doing this task. It gave me a good idea that the process is somewhat similar to what we did and involves just as much creativity and hard work.
Comments
Post a Comment