Designing books: practice & theory
A Brief Review
A book that carries the names Jost Hochuli and Robin Kinross on the cover is enough to get just about anyone’s synapses salivating.* Designing books: practice and theory, published by Hyphen Press is the best single volume on the subject of designing books. Why save it for the concluding remarks. Hold this book in your hands, flip through it, take note of the colour of text blocks, the proportions … in these simple acts there are invaluable lessons to be learned.
The book comprises three main sections. The first two are concerned with fundamental principles—symmetry, asymmetry, proportion, form, etc.; the third is a collection of real examples of good (oftentimes, exceptional) book design. The writing is concise and intelligent; the illustrations informative and relevant; and the design of the book itself is a product of Hochuli’s consummate skill.
Learning to design books is not a particularly complicated affair. The fundamentals—all of which are covered in the book—can be learned with little effort. However, the same can be said of, for example, chess: learning the moves is nothing more than filing away the rules in memory. Mastery, however, is a lifetime’s work. And as grandmasters of book design and typography, one is in good hands with Hochuli and Kinross.
What’s inside?
For a pretty short book, a lot of ground is covered: nomenclature, symmetry and asymmetry, proportion, kinds of book, prelims (e.g. half-titles, title pages and contents), end-pages (e.g. bibliography, index), and numerous fine examples of book design, including a section dedicated (in chronological order) to books designed by co-author Jost Hochuli.
Set in Monotype Baskerville roman and italic, with perfect interline spacing and measure, and accompanied by a little Univers 75 Black. I also love the generous inner margins—I hate having to almost fold a book back on itself so that I can read the text closest to the spine.
And the motto that ‘typography serves’ holds true for almost every book, where it serves with special modesty. Modest but not uncaring: even the simplest typography can be decent, appropriate, yes even beautiful.—Designing books, page 48
Should I buy this book?
Yes. If you’re thinking that you never design books, then don’t let that dissuade you from reading it. Even non-designers would come away with a greater appreciation of book design. For designers not involved in book design, many of the principles covered are equally applicable to the design of other printed matter.
In a market saturated with coffee-table pretties, masquearading as instructional books, Designing books by Jost Hochuli and Robin Kinross stands out as an intelligent, well-conceived, and inspiring title.
Win one
I will choose someone at random from the comments. The chosen one will receive a free copy of Designing Books: practice and theory.
You can buy your copy from Amazon, or directly from Hyphen Press in the UK.

* Yes, I’m aware that synapses don’t salivate, but the alliteration was irresistible.






342 comments * comment * trackback
Filip
Woohoo! This is perfect. I’ve just started doing some graphic work for a small publisher, and already we’re talking about book designing later this year. This will come in handy!
Sep 10, 2008
movmind
Wow! This came in the perfect time,it can be very handy! Thanks!
Sep 10, 2008
Daxion
Nice, this could be perfect for my final work at college. Thanks for this!
Sep 10, 2008
Morgan
Oh… must resist urge. Want.
Sep 10, 2008
Noah Furlani
Looks really interesting… and nice.
Sep 10, 2008
jquen
What an awesome concept. Thank you!
Sep 10, 2008
Chick Byrd
Obviously I am commenting because I hope to win a copy. Sounds like a dream book!
Thanks for all the inspiration and instruction you bring us in this blog.
Sep 10, 2008
Jeff
I think I’ll hold off on buying it just long enough to try and win it :) Sounds great.
Sep 10, 2008
Matty Sanders
Wow, sounds like a really interesting read - and looks beautifully designed too!
For sure this one is being added to my amazon wishlist :p
Sep 10, 2008
Stefan Nitzsche
That’s a great book – I think I have to buy it. Thank’s for the review!
Sep 10, 2008
Evan Meagher
Good pick. Looks very interesting. Design books are always great to read & flip through.
Sep 10, 2008
Lorraine
Wow how do you find these things? I simply can’t wait to add this to my bookshelf!
Sep 10, 2008
carol cavaleiro
owwww!! that’s pretty cool!!!
Sep 10, 2008
Eric Hillerns
Looking forward to reading it. Thanks for the review, ILT. Concisely informative overview, which is fitting, given the book’s approach. Well done. (And I’m not just saying that to sway the giveaway. Okay, maybe that’s part. But a very small part.)
Sep 10, 2008
andreas
i want it! ;D
Sep 10, 2008
jean
I’d love to get a copy. Count me in!
Sep 10, 2008
EJ Fox
I love books. I love design. I love books about design. I love books about designing books. I think. May I have one?
Sep 10, 2008
Jonathan
Well if I don’t win a copy, I’ll definitely put this on the Amazon wishlist!
Sep 10, 2008
Mark Kowarsky
Looks like an interesting read. I only have a passing interest in typography, but have a friend that would love something like this.
Sep 10, 2008
Daisy
Thanks for the review. I definitely have to pick up a copy.
Sep 10, 2008
danny
Glad to see the photos on the publisher’s page; I was quite disappointed when Amazon listing didn’t include the page preview feature.
As someone who’s never explored book design, the length seems ideal for an introduction to the stimulating subject.
Thanks, too, for the innumerable references in your posts. I find myself in very happy tangents to my mid-day web browsing!
Sep 10, 2008
inspirationbit
Sounds like a very interesting read. Actually, I would love to design a book one day, perhaps I’ll start with an e-book.
Whenever I read a book, I always pay attention to the way the content has been laid out, the fonts that were chosen, the way illustrations accompany the text.
Sep 11, 2008
Jorg Agostini
I like books…
Sep 11, 2008
Martin Kuplens-Ewart
This looks like it’ll be a great companion to the Elements of Typographic Style – great find!
Sep 11, 2008
Margaret
Mmmm, Baskerville. And is that a 2-color diagram? Sold.
Sep 11, 2008
Bin
Well if I don’t win it, I’m buying it!
Sep 11, 2008
Flaneur
I would love to win the book! Great article on a very interesting subject. Thanks a lot.
Sep 11, 2008
roc21
I would like to one :)
Sep 11, 2008
Travis Walton
This book tickles both the amateur designer and amateur writer inside me. Very, very interesting!
Sep 11, 2008
Tracy Osborn
This seems like a great book to help me with my handmade books; thanks for the review!
Sep 11, 2008
Jason Robb
Johno, you are the mano!
Didn’t even know this book existed. Can’t wait to check it out.
Thanks for everything. Jason
Sep 11, 2008
Thomas Bland
Heheh, I was just looking at buying that book yesterday, but winning it would be even better! Thanks Johno!
Sep 11, 2008
Philip
Would like to compare it with “The Elements of Typographic Style”. Don’t think that it can goes any better, but who knows?
Sep 11, 2008
kazuo
Great review John! Come at the right time, I started my Master’s degree and need to think about the design of my thesis…
John, or someone else, you know the “Detail in typography” by Hochuli? What you think, is good too? I thinking about buying this and “Designing books”…
And, a typo: In the last time you cite Hochuli o->u ^_^’. Bye!
Sep 11, 2008
Jared Rhizor
Sounds pretty good.
I’d love to get into book design.
Sep 11, 2008
johno
Thanks everyone.
Philip
The aims of the two books are different. Elements has a much broader scope. Designing books approaches it’s title’s subject only. Ideally you’d have both.
Kazuo
Another excellent title. Perhaps I should review that here too. Thanks for pointing out the typo.
Sep 11, 2008
Simon Goudie
Looks like an interesting book; great layout, although not so sure about the cover…
Sep 11, 2008
Joey
Looks like an interesting (and really useful) book. Sign me up for this little contest!
On another note: I’m enjoying your more frequent posts. (I like Sunday Type, but smaller posts are always good, too.)
Sep 11, 2008
Samantha Armacost
I am pretty sure my synapses are salivating. Lovely find.
Sep 11, 2008
Rafik
Do you have any books to recommend on newspaper design?
Sep 11, 2008
Steven
Wow, I sure would love to own one of these!
Sep 11, 2008
johno
Rafik
Contemporary Newspaper Design from Mark Batty Publisher looks pretty interesting. I don’t have it though, and have never read it. Will get a copy, and let you know what I think.
Sep 11, 2008
Tolga
I would like to win one. Thanks!
Sep 11, 2008
momotaro
‘twould be a wonderful addition to help with my typography studies!
Sep 11, 2008
rob
Great, just in time for when my credit card company complained about all my amazon purchases!
Sep 11, 2008
Ben
This looks great. I’d love to win one.
Sep 11, 2008
chris
thanks for the review, looks interesting!
Sep 11, 2008
Julie
Ooooh, I’d love to win a copy!
Sep 11, 2008
Steve West
Awesome, I’ll push this book onto my type students.
Sep 11, 2008
Brooke
I think some saliva just dripped on my keyboard.
Sep 11, 2008
doctor
Really I just want a copy. Also, why didn’t this show up in the RSS feed until just now?
EDIT: I guess there have just been that many comments in the past two hours. I guess the comment date is determined by GMT, then?
Sep 11, 2008
Antonio
Looks like an amazing book. Thanks for posting John. If I don’t win it I’m definitely going to buy it.
Sep 11, 2008
Stephen Tiano
John, I think I mentioned this book to you a long while back. A handful of other must-haves are Rich Hendel’s On Book Design, Robert Bringhurst’s The Elements of Typographic Style, The Design of Books by Adrian Wilson. I’ve discussed them all, as well as others, on my blog; but my recommended “big three” are Hochuli/Kinross, Hendel, and Bringhurst.
Sep 11, 2008
Joyce
I would love to give this book a home in between Chip Kidd’s “Book One” and Robert Bringhurst’s “The Elements of Typographic Style” - among my collection of inspirations to aspire to.
Sep 11, 2008
Jeff
I certainly wouldn’t mind winning a copy…
Sep 11, 2008
Antiplanner
I guess I need this book. I designed my second-to-last book, but my publisher insisted on letting someone else design my last book. The one I designed isn’t perfect, but the last one is far worse.
Sep 11, 2008
Benjamin Williams
The part I find most interesting is that presumably the cover is the best design possible (as the ones who designed the book are experts.) I would really like to know what went into that process and do hope they address such items in the book. Sounds like a winner!
Sep 11, 2008
André Oliveira
Luck
Sep 11, 2008
Alec
I bought this book a few months ago on Steve Tiano’s recommendation — it’s really nice. Someday, I shall design a book. I think that’s pretty attainable goal that can replace one of my more unattainable ones, like becoming a rock star.
Sep 11, 2008
Antonio Patriarca
Wow! That looks great!
Sep 11, 2008
Amanda DeVries
My synapses are in high salivation mode. Could have used this a few times in the past for sure; but better late than never, right?!
Sep 11, 2008
Victoria
Love it, great review :)
Sep 11, 2008
Rachel
The only thing I’ve ever won in my life is a dead goldfish from a fair when I was eight. Let’s hope this trumps.
Sep 11, 2008
Hollis Ervin
I’ve got to tell you, you’re wrong. Synapses do indeed salivate, and this book makes it happen.
Sep 11, 2008
Cody
Long time no post.
Time to win stuff!! Haha
I hope all is well Johno
Sep 11, 2008
seth
i would so so so love a copy of this book.
Sep 11, 2008
Mat Larkin
This looks fabulous — and I’m delighted to be reading your new short posts Johno!
Sep 11, 2008
Nicolas Alexander Girard
Great post as usual! will try to get my hand on this!!
Sep 11, 2008
Liz
I would love a copy!
Sep 11, 2008
Terry Bain
That looks like a gorgeous book. Once upon a time I was a book designer, and it always seems like I’ll do that again one day. And usually it’s gorgeous books on book design that make me want to design more books (maybe design more books on book design). —blessings…
Sep 11, 2008
MDB
Thanks for the review. I hadn’t heard of the book until now. I would love to learn more about book design.
Sep 11, 2008
Bob Marchman
mmm…book design. I just got my copy of The Solid Form of Language and I’m still drooling over it. Would love a copy of Designing Books to go along with it!
Always a joy.
Sep 11, 2008
Emily
Thanks for the contest. This book looks like an interesting read, indeed.
Sep 11, 2008
Haydee
oh gosh… only at amazon or uk? it’s hard to live in south america… hahahaha
Sep 11, 2008
LinaBina
alliteration is my favorite poetic device. ever. ::applaud:: ♥
Sep 11, 2008
Deborah Robson
I design books on traditional and ethnic textile skills, especially knitting and spinning. I do it because I love books, love knitting, am fanatic about making the images and the text work together as well as possible.
Thanks for the book alert (it would be lovely to win a copy: my dedication to craft has impeded my income flow in the past several months) and the connection to Steve Tiano’s blog, via the comments.
Two nice discoveries to end the day, for which I am grateful. Although before I can close out the day for real, I still have a drawing to place electronically in my latest book design and see if I’ve got the pen weights right. Yes, I know I could do this piece in Illustrator, but it just wouldn’t look right for a book on handcraft… .
Sep 11, 2008
James
It’s always weird to read articles like this.
On one hand, I’m eager to leaf through the book, hear what they have to say. But on the other you have to wonder: When does an art become a science and when is that science… unnecessary? Is it really so complex that we can lecture on it enough to write a book?
But I’m sure it’ll prove to be interesting, regardless.
Sep 11, 2008
brian
would love to add this to my library of instruction!
Sep 11, 2008
johno
James
That’s one of the strengths of this book. Hochuli in fact warns against dogmatism, and his tone is never condescending, never dogmatic. In fact, he admonishes, via a quote from Kant’s What is Enlightenment?
Sapere aude! Have the courage to use your own understanding.
Sep 11, 2008
PeterG
Kinross is a great writer and authority on typography. The book is worth every dollar.
Sep 11, 2008
Matt
Sweet. I’ve been waiting for Hochuli’s Detail in Typography to come to the US for ages now. This looks great as well.
Sep 11, 2008
josh
You sure know how to entice comments John! That book looks exquisite.
Sep 11, 2008
Victoria
Nice review. Like everyone else, I’d love to win a copy of the book. But if not, I’ll probably buy it soon.
Sep 11, 2008
Vladimir
very interesting book!
Sep 11, 2008
bethany
thanks for blogging this - if I don’t win it (heh) then I will probably also buy it soon :) I am excited to read it.
Sep 11, 2008
Toben
Wow… thanks, I just found my next design purchase! Unless I win it. :)
Sep 11, 2008
Lisa
Wow! Useful book!
Pick me?
Sep 11, 2008
Les
Choice!! Maybe what Bringhurst has done for type & typesetting, Hochuli & Kinross can do for book design. Thanks for the critique!
Sep 11, 2008
johno
Just to say that I won’t be influenced by the fact that you live in a shoe box and work 23 hours a day for 2 cents an hour ;)
The winner will be chosen by computer, at random :)
Sep 11, 2008
Cameron
Looks awesome! Buying design books is somewhat of an addiction.
Sep 11, 2008
Matti Mattila
Sounds very useful book. Thanks for sharing this!
Sep 11, 2008
Nathan Martella
Perfect for my publication design assignment coming up… will definitely have to pick this up one day or another. Thanks!
Sep 11, 2008
Alice
Oh, fantastic! Add to this the fact that I ran across a mysterious book bindery in my friend’s neighborhood yesterday, and you’ve got yourself a bona fide binding fixation!
Sep 11, 2008
Viton
Thanks for sharing! I’ll definitely check it out.
Sep 11, 2008
Greg
Want want want! I’ve been meaning to get my grubby mitts on some typography and graphic design books, and this looks like it’d be a good way to start such a collection.
Sep 11, 2008
Bálint
Commenting for a chance to win! I already have a book I layed out published but I would definitely like to improve and smooth some bumps in the workflow.
Sep 11, 2008
Oliver
I hope to win a copy. Very interesting! The book looks fine!
Sep 11, 2008
mHauken
What a perfect timing: My next class is about book-design. Would be perfect with a book like this then.
Sep 11, 2008
Hartman
Looks like a goodie !! Be keen check it out.
Sep 11, 2008
Arzmael
want one now ! Amazon, where are you ?
Sep 11, 2008
Aaron Moodie
I’ve just started on Elements and loving it. Another book worth checking out is Typographic Systems.
Sep 11, 2008
Paul van der Heijden
Sounds good. I wonder what the overlap is with books such as Bringhursts The Manual of Typographic Style.
Sep 11, 2008
AAA
Thanks for pointing out this one. Keep up the good work writing the best typography site on the web!
Sep 11, 2008
Gabor
Now this looks rather interesting. I’ll definitely have to get myself a copy someday. :)
Sep 11, 2008
octavian
I dream about designing books!
Thanks for the review and for letting us know about this one!
Sep 11, 2008
Per Olav Walmann
If it’s anyway near Kinross’ «Modern typography: an essay in critical history», it must be great.
Sep 11, 2008
Fre
Oh! Suits you! She wants it sir!
Sep 11, 2008
Jake
ILT rules!
Sep 11, 2008
salvatore
wow, i really need it!
Sep 11, 2008
David
Wow, looks like a great book. I’d love to win the free copy. Keep up the good blog work!
Sep 11, 2008
Janine
Definitely a must have. I love it.
Thanks a lot for this book review.
Sep 11, 2008
elena
this book will move instantly to my to-buy list!
Sep 11, 2008
S. Orban
Book added to my wishlist. It should be fine with The Element of Typographic style.
Now… Is there a book like those on poster design ?
Sep 11, 2008
Cornelius
**** Wow! Wow! ****
Did I win the book now? The people that make out that their lives depend on winning this book make me laugh :D
Sep 11, 2008
Klaas Wijnne
Great way of counting how many people actually read your blog. Well done!
Sep 11, 2008
Kuroki Kaze
Do want.
Sep 11, 2008
Infrid
i am going to read this book after Bringhurst’s classic
Sep 11, 2008
Spence
Wow, this looks great, design (obviously) looks bloody amazing!
Sep 11, 2008
Gilles
I’d love reading that book in the winter near the fireplace. Good design makes me all warm inside!
Sep 11, 2008
Andre
It seems like the ideal next book to read, for me. I’ve based the design of my website on the book metaphor and it would surely help me improve it!
Nice book review, by the way!
Sep 11, 2008
Pellerino
Looks like a realy nice book. Good review.
Sep 11, 2008
Peter
Do. Want.
Sep 11, 2008
someone at random
I am really looking forward to reading this. It will probably clear the air about alot of practical problems one encounters often when designing a book, or booklet. Thanks for the post, and the book.
Sep 11, 2008
Dan
Wonderful reading. I enjoy reviews. Thanks.
Sep 11, 2008
Michael
hmmmm… book on book design….
must have…. *dribble*
Sep 11, 2008
Theremina
As a future publisher, I just NEED this.
Sep 11, 2008
Jason
Oh, wow. That looks like a fantastic resource. I’m teaching a senior design class at a small university, and they are designing a series of books for their first project. I would love to have something like this as a supplemental text. Thanks for sharing. Jason
Sep 11, 2008
edo
¡ Want ¡t !!!
Sep 11, 2008
kergelant
Choose me, please!
Sep 11, 2008
Olivier
Its the first time that a book review make me instantanly want to buy it ^__^
Thanks for your enthusiasm
Sep 11, 2008
Zavati Vladimir
PICK ME FOR THE BOOK :P
Sep 11, 2008
Jonathan
Hmmmmm. So many more comments when there is a free book up for grabs :-)
Count me in too!
Sep 11, 2008
MattiaC
oh well
cool news
:)
, matt
Sep 11, 2008
Sander
LOL, when I opened this article with 133 comments, and scrolled down I thought iLT was spammed with ‘thank you’ and ‘count me in’ comments. But the opposite is true, thank you John for bringing this book to our attention. Seems like a great guide into designing a book.
Sep 11, 2008
Josef
I am currently trying to get a copy of Design in Typography and then this happens! My goodness. This will give me a run for my money. ;)
Sep 11, 2008
Kristian Kruse
http://www.doverbooks.co.uk/
They also have some nice books on design etc. I bought one in London earlier this year about general layouting with examples of everything, grids, texts, ratios etc etc!!! It had a bright orange front cover. I cannot find it on the site, but if you like I can give you the name of the book and perhaps a amazon link later. I think it is worth gold!
This also looks very promising and will have to buy it! I can learn a lot I see!!!
Thanks for a great blog btw. Am checking it all the time!
Sep 11, 2008
Sveinn
If I don’t win the book, I’ll order it.
Kristian, sounds like you’er talking about Grid Systems in Graphic Design by Josef Muller-Brockmann
Sep 11, 2008
Guilherme Pires
Talvez compre. Parece-me bem.
Percebes alguma destas palavras?
Guilherme Pires (Portugal)
Sep 11, 2008
Gaz Shaw
I’ve got Book Design by Andrew Haslam, part of Lawrence King’s Portfolio series. Theory-wise, it’s pretty comprehensive. I wonder how this book compares.
Sep 11, 2008
hrvojeb
Pick me! Pick me!
Sep 11, 2008
raquel santos
Looks like a realy nice book.
it can be very handy! Thanks for posting!
Sep 11, 2008
Pierre
I’d like to read it.
Sep 11, 2008
Kristian Kruse
Sveinn> No actually not, because it has a lot of other things that grids. It is the whole deal with font, keerning, spaces, ratios, grids and so forth. More general layout design. I’ll look it up later!
Sep 11, 2008
Ric
Wow, 144th comment. People must really want this book! Count me in!
Sep 11, 2008
raquel santos
hi again
http://www.felicianotypefoundry.com
great portuguese type!!!!!!! take a look
Sep 11, 2008
Stephen Tiano
James, “unnecessary science”? First, John’s hit the nail right on the head, Hochuli seems more interested—when you get into the book—in getting across the need to think about different elements of a book, rather than think about then in any specific way. Toward that end, he covers the initial book design decision: the physical size and proportion of a book’s page in a full, meaningful way, which—to me—then makes it very easy to continue to other aspects in a sure-minded way.
There is both an art and—if you don’t like the notion of science in book design—craft to making books. Much like the pursuit of, say, making great architecture, there is first the basic doing it in a complete way so that the building stands (craft); and then there is doing it well, putting up a beautiful building (art). In some ways, the two notions are inseparable.
Sep 11, 2008
Nuno Coelho
pick me or i will kill myself!
Sep 11, 2008
Steve Frost
Pick me… Pick me…
Sep 11, 2008
Kiril
I’d like to have it.
Sep 11, 2008
Sye
this looks great, i’ve designed a few books, but still struggle with it, so this looks really useful. thanks again johno!
Sep 11, 2008
sjostrom
This looks like an interesting book. And it there is a little Univers 75 Black in it too!
Sep 11, 2008
Kelly
This seems like it would be a great resource for explaining why and how we read books physical books (as opposed to ebooks and such)!
Sep 11, 2008
mcasanova
Just to be here… (Interesting book)
Sep 11, 2008
statto
This looks great - I have just started producing much longer documents at work.
Sep 11, 2008
Marian
Don’t you agree this book would look gorgeous next to my version of Fully Booked? A match made in heaven!! :)
Sep 11, 2008
MP
This is so going in my Amazon Wishlist! Now, if I can just get around to ordering some of those books :) -MP
Sep 11, 2008
Richard
Once again, great post! I’ll most definitely have to check this book out!
Sep 11, 2008
Craig
Nice review…fingers crossed…
Sep 11, 2008
ferdinand
I want to win. this would be a nice addition to my library.
Sep 11, 2008
Dawn
I have just begun designing books. I’m almost afraid to read this to discover all I have done incorrectly. It definitely sounds like something to add to my library.
Sep 11, 2008
linda
It’s making me salivate…
Sep 11, 2008
Aaron
I’d love this book.
Sep 11, 2008
David Yeiser
Sounds like it’s on par with The Elements of Typography Style.
Book design seems like the ultimate practice of restraint and humility. Hopefully one day I will have the chance!
Sep 11, 2008
Yannis Baritakis
wow so many comments!
Sep 11, 2008
Matt
Awesome! Will be on my bookshelf very soon…
Sep 11, 2008
Aly
I’d love to get my hands on a copy of this!
Sep 11, 2008
Alex
Thanks for the review! I love book design and want to read more about it.
Sep 11, 2008
Vinicius Dias de Lima
I really wanna get this book. Perfect tip, great review. Thanks.
Sep 11, 2008
Neale
Is there a section on how to control the urge to redesign a book layout once you’ve already half-filled your book with content? :P
Sep 11, 2008
Rob Weychert
I may just have to quote you in a presentation I’m giving next month. :)
Sep 11, 2008
cappy
Nothing is as satisfying as reading a well designed book.
Sep 11, 2008
xants
Yeah!
Sep 11, 2008
Luis Santos
I love the book´s simple aproach: Designing Books! Just it! I would love to get one of them!
Best regards,
Luis Santos
Sep 11, 2008
Brian C. Ladd
I am a struggling artist/designer trapped in the body of a computer scientist (or is that trapped in the mind of a computer scientist). I am currently writing my first book and because it is a niche product I am also down as the text’s designer. Since I know a thing or two about programmer art, this is sometimes daunting.
Of course, since I aspire to design, I am actually happy to do it. We will see what the finished product becomes. They have given me one color beyond black to play with. I am trying to do my best.
In any case, I really love this blog. It is one of only a dozen feeds I actually subscribe to. The pictures, the news about typography, all that stuff. It makes me happy.
Oh, yeah, if anyone wants a short, sweet, free lesson in book design, look at the documentation for the memoir package for LaTeX. The first half of the documentation is on why the package was needed and each chapter begins with design reasons for the default behavior of the package. Maybe it is my computer science brain that loved it but the presentation was readable and very, very pretty (lots of sample page spreads from books throughout the ages).
Sep 11, 2008
Ryan Egan
Very interesting. I’ve always wondered and kind of figured that there was a definite process and system to