Constructing and Deconstructing the Book

Greenwich Time—constructing and deconstructing the book

Objective
To explore how typography creates and manipulates meaning; to examine how typeface choice,
composition, scale, and visual hierarchy play in the communication of meaning; to experiment
with structuring the content as it relates to an underlying grid; to understand hierarchy in
typography, as it relates to a system.

Specifications
Use the following guidelines in your studies:
Type: You may use only one family of type for the time being.
Text: You must use all of the text supplied. The text will be provided as a downloadable word doc from the course blog.
Hierarchy: Use style sheets to define the following: Headline, caption, pullquote, body copy.
You must use style sheets.
Page Size: The size of the document is up to you, but you should base it on some established printable document size, whether from the ISO European sizes, the American system, or some other standard size (square).
Color: Use only one color for now. Black is considered a color.
Spreads: You are designing spreads, not single pages (the contents can face a blank page).
Folios: You must include folios (and running headers/footers) in your introduction spread.
Photography: No photography (but you can use graphic elements like rules)

For next tuesday, march 2
Step 1: Choose a typeface and page size.
Step 2: Layout 3 different options using 3 different column options.

For next Tuesday, you need to create three different layout options for the contents and introduction sections of your book. Begin experimenting with placing text on the page. The elements you should vary are as follows: column width (measure), number of columns, type size, leading, type face, placement on page, and alignment. Create three different books spread designs, each using a different grid for layout. Keep in mind the concept of the horizontal flowlines as well as the number and width of columns.

For next thursday, March 4
Following our one-on-one meetings, please refine your 3 grid design options for class critique on Thursday. Bring full-size printouts of your 3 design options for class critique. The designs should include contents page and intro section.

No less than three layouts, as spreads, using the following:
+ one layout designed using a 1 or 2 column grid
+ second layout designed using a 3 column grid
+ third layout designed using a grid of your choice (can be a hybrid of different column grids).

One, two and three column grids are provided on the following pages for sketching purposes. Additionally, four and five column grids are provided for you to play with for the third layout. Please
print out several of the provided grids to work with as a guide for your sketches.

Advice:
+ pay attention to white space
+ make sure your contents spread relates visually to your introduction spread
+ compare the “color” of your texts blocks
+ ask yourself which layouts scan better
+ ask yourself which layouts and designs allude to the content of the book?