GRAPHIC DESIGN V/VI - GRA 401/402: (GRA 401) PROJECT 2

Today, in the age of desktop publishing, we are surrounded by numerous examples of books, magazines, newspapers and other visual media; pages and pages of text and image designed by professionals to create a bright and beautiful way to zero information content. Editorial design has become content without meaning, smartly done up to use combinations of pictures and type so that words become decorative and text merely a component in a visual look.
For once, you as designers are asked to be both the author and the designer of a book. The aim of this project is to author a work from its contents to its design. For you will determine all the components of this work, we will call it: a designer’s book.

Research, compilation, design and execution are among the essential steps you need to take in this project.
The first phase requires you to find a ‘topic’ and make extensive research on it. For a topic, you can select any subject which you find interesting and worth for studying. Please, try not to be very individual or very general, so that you can limit your research. Also, consider your topic’s appeal for your audience. How would it communicate itself and what kind of an effect it will create, if your work is published and placed on a shelf in a bookstore.
When you decide on your topic, you can compile your research materials: illustrations, photographs, drawings, articles, your writings, poetry etc.

Once you have your material before you, you can start working on your format and layout. Note that, the total area of your final work should be equal to 63 x 87cm x (1.5) area at minimum, with at least 12 pages. Another crucial aspect of this project is the proportions between image and text. At least 40% of your final work should be composed of text.
Finally, after you complete your design, you are expected to execute it as a 3D prototype: folded, bound and ready for use designer’s book.