Sharpe+Associates by Tom Tor

Sharpe+Associates is a packaging design for promotional mailer of 9 different photographers.

After seeing many examples of the choice of using elastic band for bind, personally I think the viewer can expect a variation of works underneath that band. It is also a good way to isolate each piece of work while viewing it, giving each piece of work an own space to breath.





However, how effective is this kind of format for a mailer? The placement of the text is beyond the band and its difficult to flip through, which might have to force the viewer to remove the band to browse through everything. It may be simple but on the other hand, taxing for the viewers to read.


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Adele Outteridge

picture source
Bus ticket book that consist of 300 journeys. Everyday objects might not mean anything when it is stand alone. but when it is bounded together, the message is strong and clear.


picture source
Steps to enlightenment.
Exploded book binding. Yes. It is still a book since the pages are "binded" together.
I think book binding itself is an art form. Putting aside the functionality and economic aspects of a "proper book" for reading, book design is a true marry of art, craft and design. The space in between is very interesting that I could imagine more paper forms on each piece of paper and sculpted into a 3 dimensional building or something like that. That division of space allow viewers to imagine and dream.

A very inspiring and power piece that opens up my mind that book binding need not be pivoted at a point.




Picture source: Keith A.Smith and Fred A. Jordan, Bookbinding for book artists, Keith Smith book, 1998, NY, p.122

Outteridge is seen here as experimenting with materials and properties of materials. And a juggle between geometry and dimension. Same goes for the one below.


Picture source: Keith A.Smith and Fred A. Jordan, Bookbinding for book artists, Keith Smith book, 1998, NY, p.108


Picture source: Keith A.Smith and Fred A. Jordan, Bookbinding for book artists, Keith Smith book, 1998, NY, p.65

Again, daily objects used to create a book.
That reminded me of the Lipton tea bag tags I have been collecting since the start of this year.
I wonder how much can one push the boundary of using daily objects to make art?


A short biography of her can be found here

If there is smoke, there is fire

Innovative concept and use of material. Overlapping methodology of the idea "edge". The edge of a book vs the edge of the matchbox.

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Bookbinding Terminology

Head: top side of the book
Tail of Foot:bottom side of the book
Spine: backside of the book; gives flexibility and support
Foredge:side of the book that opens



Text Block: pages or the inside of the book
Square: extra space around the edges of the cover; designed to protect the textblock.
End sheet, End page or Fly leaf: Sheet that attaches the text block to the cover or a sheet to cover the turnovers.
Headband: decoration and added support for the text block



Page: one side of the leaf
Leaf: Single sheet of paper or one half of a folio (equals 2 pages)
Folio: Single sheet of folded in half (equals to 4 pages)
Quarto: Single sheet folded twice(equals 8 pages)
Octavo: Single sheet folded three times (equals 16 pages)
Signature or section: Gathering of folios; a quarto or octavo


Information from book: Benjamin D. Rinehart, Creating books & Boxes. Fun and unique
approaches to Handmade structures. Quarry, 2007, Singapore

Alison Wilton

Alison Wilton, designer from US finds herself in the world of colours. Many of her works are loud and playful. "Perhaps one of the most exciting things about Allison’s passion for creation is the possibility she sees behind melding the boundaries that exist between fine art and design."
Thus, many of the books are experimental and wacky.
This book shown below is bounded by telephone wires. The book is an echo social networks online.




"Social networking sites have grown immensely in popularity in recent years. Along with growing popularity, controversy has arose as well. Concerns of privacy and the amount of personal information an individual choses to disclose are also an issue. There have been numerous incidents of violence and sexual abuse from social networking sites as well. myspace.com is a compilation of opinions and anecdotes about myspace and its recent rise in popularity."
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