To be noted: you have just two days left to apply for one of the 5200 free copies of The BO12 our global premium partner Antalis will distribute. The Book of 12 is a collection of 12 notebooks, designed by 12 icons of international graphic design and containing interviews with them on their love for paper in the digital age.
‘I think of the texture of the paper as an essential piece of information to share a message, an idea, a concept or an impression with readers. Printed matter in general is dependent on the paper on which it is printed. When it comes to books, this choice is even more complex and absolutely fundamental. In addition to the tactile quality of each page, the paper choice is strongly connected to the weight, to the volume and, most importantly, to the flexibility of a book.’
Says Brazilian graphic designer Elaine Ramos, who is one of the 12 art directors interviewed for the BO12 project. She will take the stage at WDCD Live São Paulo too, where she will present an overview of her many book designs and elaborate on the paper choices she makes.
Zazie no metrô
In the BO12-interview Ramos continues:
‘The pliability of paper is very important. But it is never an isolated factor. When we talk about books, many elements must be orchestrated. The flexibility depends also on the format, on the binding, on the number of pages, etc. Flexibility is connected to the weight of the paper, and the weight of the paper is connected to its transparency. The transparency is, in turn, connected to the layout and the content of the book. For example, Zazie no metrô is printed on bible paper – even the cover. It is part of the initial concept, the design takes advantage of the paper’s flexibility as well as its transparency. I wanted the book to be elusive, to evoke the dreamlike quality of the narration. The cover is as flimsy as the book itself.’
For BO12 graphic design writer Véronique Vienne met with 12 top designers around the world including Reza Abedini (Iran), Milton Glaser (US), Daniel Eatock (UK), Park Kum-Jun (South Korea), Leonardo Sonnoli (Italy) and Hans Wolbers (Netherlands). They all shared their vision of the place of paper in the digital age.
The result of the entire project is a genuine collector’s item: a presentation box with 12 notebooks printed with infinite care on very fine creative paper with stunning colours and sensual textures. As said: you have just two more days to apply for a copy through www.bo12.com