504 - Type in Context - Feedback & Development

In response to my developed binding research I started sketching my ideas for the publication out so I had everything visually infront of me, to help move forward and specify the techniques I want to experiment with. 

This began with sketches of how the outer hardback cover could leave an over-hanging border around the inner-bound signatures. Leaving that space to experiment with type headings, etc. 
I briefly discuss how a process such as coptic stitching would be appropriate here but I need to speak to someone who is more experienced in this binding process to check it will work with regards to the various layers of different sized stock.
Using my inspiration images, I began sketching how the different stock inserts could be sized/positioned in relation to the content present on them. It would better split up the sections of the book, allow a visual contrast of colour balance (reflect Serbian colours?), give various dimensions for different sized full bleed images, it would flow and feel much more interactive for viewers.

My publication could be split into the four sections - A type-based intro, Serbian contextual city pics, type based concept/rational section, and then the type in context A-Z.
Wouldn't necessarily have sections 1, 2 & 3 folded/bound either side of section 4, would layer it up on the front page so the back endpage can be stuck to the cover.

The bookbinding tutorials which took place in the studio provided me with a better insight into how I could adapt the case bound hard-back into my project. I got to grips with the book rim and how I would have to align my foiling to the centre after it has been bound, not before. The images below reflect the various signatures which I can experiment with and also the sharp appearing endpapers..

Getting hands on with a small A5 sized book inspired to me start specifying my own dimensions for the publication and how I would want to consider not just the target audience but ratios set out by Tschichold. The size would have some influence on the binding aswell and how fiddly it would be to produce. 
I started by experimenting with a similar sized A5 MockUp (148x210mm).
This did feel too small for a coffee-table inspired publication so I decided to lay out the ratios which Tschichold considers as a perfect size for publication design. 
- It must be no bigger(fatter) than 3:4 (the quarto), as he doesn't consent squared shaped publications
- 2:3 is considered the best proportion, however having experimented with this it is much too thin..


I rounded the A5 dimensions to fit the 2:3 ratio, 140 : 210mm - but it needs to be more towards the 3:4 ratio, as feels too thin

- 3:4 = 157.5 : 210mm - Better ratio, more comfortable to hold, but want quality of images to be reflected at a larger scale
- 3:4 = 180 : 240mm - Perfect size for my publication - still hand held

This gave me my dimensions for the main scale of my publication and meant I could now start developing the dimensions of the varied stock layers which would sit on top, aswell as the mapping the points in which it would be bound down the spine to ensure it is held securely..

I let the dimensions fully inspire a structured layout, with section number 2 being worked out first. Simply minus-ing 50mm from the upper and right sides to create this first contrasted area, revealing section 3 & 4. Section 1 is similar, to ensure it is centred with the rest a further 50mm was taken, this time from the lower side of the book; with a step in on the right hand side of 30mm from section 2 to allow that contrast. Section 3, being type based will sit at the bottom rotated to landscape, 100mm tall to fit the step ups created by the other sections. 

1 - 100 x 140mm - Intro to book & Serbia 
2 - 130 x 190mm - Mood setting City Pics 
3 - 180 x 100mm - Concept / Rationale for TiC
4 - 180 x 240mm - Type in Context A-Z Images

..with set binding points at 20mm, 70mm, 120mm, 170mm & 220mm down the spine to ensure each section is evenly secure to the spine, with atleast 2 poke throughs on each.
My first mockup (not to scale)..

My second mockup (to scale with binding points marked on (but stapled)) and sat on a bit of hard-back board..

After the binding tutorial I chatted with her about what I want to do with my project and how it would work in relation to stitching methods, either - Pamphlet, Coptic or Secret Belgian (which would involve actually attaching the inner pages to the spine/cover rather than just the endpage. 

She said that dependant on stability, coptic and some other methods rely on lopping through the various signatures in a figure of 8 so with the various layers of stock it would run out and may not work. With a hard-back that would provide that extra stability for it however so it could be experimented with. Pamphlet stitching does some most appropriate however as it would sew through the individual sheets rather than relying on grouped signatures. 

*To get a better idea of how it would work I said I would pay her another visit once I had a fixed idea on thickness of stock and quantity of pages (so after initial print tests), then we can see how it could physically be bound most effectively, aswell as visually being able to crit if I want the hardback or not.