When creating the book i was very focused on the quick turn around to get it sent of for printing, this post explores the process of creating the book and challenges i overcame and strengths i gained from this process. Having already practised my layout techniques and the overall asthetic of the book i was going in with a very clear visual of each page, chapter and asthetic. This was hugely beneficial as I was clear at what I was doing rather than going in without knowledge on these elements and due to this I was able to put the book together in a shorter time than if i hadn't planed out every asthetic .
This image explores the process i went through in designing my book from online book publishing website Blurb.com I have decided to add at the extra's on as I really want to create a beautifully finished project so taking the extra time to create the exact fabrication of the book was important.
Final Design:
A4 Standard Portrait
Dust cover jacket
Charcoal grey linen hardback book
Proline uncoated (egg shell texture paper)
Proline inside cover changed to black
Blurb Logo Removed
I would have liked to add on foil stamping but due to the time when that book will arrive i will not have time to achieve this.
{ Changes }
- Styling of chapters:
- - No stitching in last
- - Colour crop didn't work on all imagery
- - See through crop took away from the image
- - Back cover imagery
- Theatre Logo
While Creating the book I found that due to both the size (A4) and the time restrictions many elements couldn't be created. Each chapter was suppose to have a differnt graphic theme to add interest and an interactive feel when putting the images with all the practised techniques and into the book measurements i found that it looked a little to cluttered and took away from the raw emotive feel of the images. I therefore decided to change the styling of the chapters adding in elements were i could such as 'The Party' chapter subtly adding in colour block, but for the rest the image spoke out on a black background more than with all the extra graphic elements. I further was supposed to have stitching being created on the last chapters imagery although as i wanted this done professionally i couldn't find anyone to do it for the short time restrictions that i had so again kept the images simple and speaking by themselves.
Additional the back cover was created as a baby pink with the yellow location shoot crop and cropped edited image of Sara and the hand, although when creating the dust jack cover i found that it didn't work with the dark tones of the front and i wanted the whole book to flow, while wanting to keep the yellow moss i inserted this into the inside flaps of the dust jacket to add interest.
{Challenges}
- Creating something innovative & interactive while still being able to see the production imagery as a whole.
- book binding not fitting to the number of pages at the last minute, had to amend this again taking up valued time.
- foil printing- unavailable, can be done at home but wont have time
Time restrictions was the biggest wall i was up against, having a short turn around from post production of the imagery to printing of the final book, i felt the pressure in time scales. I initially wanted to create an interactive book but with the time i had to fabricate the book manually i ran out of time to do this. If i would have had more time or allowed more time at the end of my production schedule as I most defiantly underestimated the time the post production on the photography and creation of the book would take i feel i could have created a book that explored more of this innovative idea adding two weeks on top of what i had done would have given me that time to create what i had envisioned this also included embossed foil printed letters on the linen cover of the book.
{Strengths}
- The overall asthetic, colour pallets & imagery all worked coherently together
- all my own work apart from production photography
- finding the right asthetic for the book - Blurb.com
I feel that due to the in depth practise and development of the aesthetics previous to the actual fabrication of the book I was able to create an well educated aesthetic that was coherent with all visuals included such as colour pallet, photography and typography and that also appealed to my target market. As I am a perfectionist i was able to create the exact asthetic of the actual book also on Blurb.com the printing website adding on extras such as inside page colour and linen cover colour was important to me not to use the default settings and creating an outcome that is all my own style.
{Weaknesses}
- Stress, putting pressure on myself delayed time
- thinking at more that one thing at once- editing images to fit into the style of chapter.
I found that due to the short production period this caused me to be very stressed and this sometime held me back rather than pushing me forward delaying time. I feel this stress was more due to not having time to create the desired asthetic rather than stressing on what i was actually creating. In recognising that i could only do what i could in the time, i embraced the new design and created the best look i could.
{Learning}
- That i enjoy graphic design, creative design seeing all my ideas come together i am a creative!
When sending the book of for printing the website gave an overview of what the outcome will look like i was instantly very overwhelmed and happy with the final result, although I feel i could have created something a little more innovative and interactive with the textural and layering elements I feel that with the time scale i had i was able to create something that pulled in all my creative skills such as; painting, character design, colour placement and many new skills such as graphic design, book curation, photoshop, Indesign, creative direction and many more. I have built many new skills that i have found i really enjoy the process of creating the book was exciting and fun and although i feel this is just the start of what the new theatre brochure could look like, its an example of how theatre publications need to step up to the plate hopefully in the future competing with the fashion publications such as ID. Utilising the talent and creative beauty that they create in creating publications that are add ons from this rather than just spaces for advertisements like they are now.
{ I will be awaiting the book and in the mean time will start updating my reflective work blog }
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