Assignment Task
Book Redesign
For this project, you will pick a poorly designed book of your choosing to redesign. Choose a book that features large images so you can scan them at high resolution. Coffee-table books are ideal as they usually have large images and all necessary components, such as text, captions, titles, and subtitles. You will only be creating sample spreads, not the entire book. The required spreads are listed under specifications.
Creative Brief, Research, Mood boards, Sketches
Identify a specific target audience for your project. In addition to selecting a book to redesign, gather inspiration for the look and feel of your redesign. Seek out good examples of type treatment, photo/illustration treatment, color themes, and overall layout. Create three different mood boards, each appropriate for your book. Label your mood boards with key words to serve as a reference throughout your design process and to indicate the design direction to your client. Keep your sketches loose but detailed enough to provide a general visual idea of your explorations. Explore at least 10 different spreads with text and images that you can expand into more variations or adapt to the front end of the book.
Type Studies and Computer Sketches
Experiment with various body-copy typefaces, point sizes, and leading combinations. Refer back to your explorations for ideas. Choose the three most promising concept directions and create computer comps. Do not worry about details like rags and kerning at this stage. Ensure you incorporate multiple levels of hierarchy.
Computer Roughs
Select the most effective direction and establish a grid. Ensure the grid can adapt to all the different spreads you’ll be designing. Add markers—page numbers, running heads, etc. At this point, the system should work cohesively across all spreads and the cover.
Type Specimen Promotion
Type foundries deliver promotional materials when they release new typefaces. Your task is to develop an engaging type promotion that includes a type specimen. This must appeal to graphic designers and a type-savvy audience. We will work on all the details as they develop during the semester. As with every major project, you will start with a creative brief; however, you will have more freedom to develop your content. The format can range from a multi-page promotional brochure to a poster that unfolds. Most importantly, this piece should be fun and engaging; it should make the typeface sing, show its proper usage, and illustrate its appeal.
Creative Brief, Research, Mood boards, Sketches
Consider the specific target audience as you research similar projects and solutions. Pull and clip inspiration to develop your design and provide background knowledge about the subject. You should have at least 10 samples of beautiful typography. Create three different mood boards of possible looks and feels, labeled with key words. The chosen mood board will serve as a reference throughout your design process. Sketch at least 15–25 thumbnails of different concept and layout directions. Keep sketches loose but detailed enough to convey a general visual idea of your explorations.
