OUGD504 - Conventions of the Book

The Book as a tool to communicate - Exploring/Disrupting Conventions

Book 1: Another Day by David Levithan

1.

• The book is has a paperback cover which is flexible and easy to move.
• It uses a Perfect Bind method for the binding process (glued) - this means that it was mass produced and therefore inexpensive to make.
• It is A5 size which means that it is easy to hold (handheld). 
• It has a fairly large type size and leading making it easy to read.
• Uses book paper inside.
• It is cheap to afford because it is aimed at younger readers.

2.

• Subject of the book: Fiction novel about love and despair.
• Could have waterproof papers for emotional readers.
• It could use a delicate stitch binding process such as Japanese because the story is about a delicate subject.
• Look at using textured paper to represent the feelings that are present in the book. 

Book 2: Dazed and Confused Magazine

1.

• A4 size.
• Uses a perfect bind meaning that it was inexpensive to produce.
• Has a gloss finish.
• Has been mass produced meaning that it is fairly cheap and therefore able to be afforded by most people.
• It has a thin stock and lots of pages. The paper type inside is a lightweight coated type.
• There are large bodies of text throughout using a small text size. 
• Most of the space in the magazine is taken up by large images. 

2.

• Subject of the magazine: Style (fashion, art, architecture, music)
• Handmade processes are more in fashion in the current market so by using a handmade binding method, type setting etc, it could lead to more relevance as a style magazine. 
• It could incorporate the use of materials and textures throughout to make it an interactive fashion experience.

Question 3, use the techniques for ideas for our own publications:

The Customers Choice - Gin and Tonic

• Materials need to be sturdy because the guide will be manhandled by a lot of different people. 
• For use in the pub - needs to be easy to read for everyone and use imagery to explain the ingredients in each cocktail.
• Could be based around the dimensions of a bottle of gin which is most popular with the customers.
• Hard back - More wearable.