3. Production surgery

P
U
F

There were some interesting points that people from Four Corners Books made about the project:

  • Usually you forget about the medium when for example reading a book, and here you’re pulled back to the object.
  • Sometimes you go through a sequence, but sometimes you see fragments simultaneously.
  • In some examples, you use a text that has more impressionistic character, but sometimes it feels like you talk to the person handling it, reflecting on what’s happening.
  • Different designs do different things and make different invitations.

Different emotional effects, or moods:

  • in order, slowly, gradually, still, fragility, something hidden
  • unstructured, chaotic, disturbed, busy
  • playful, music, puzzle

Suggestions:

  • Find content that feels emotionally right for the form.
  • Colour and texture also have associations (often personal). You can’t fully anticipate them, but you can create a range of different impressions.
  • Are those designs shown together, combined? Are they put in a box? How to protect them?
  • Any instructions? Sometimes it’s not only about saying what to do with the design, but just indicating that you can, and inviting someone to do it. But it can be very subtle, and just a title or a phrase could indicate that.
  • How much guidance or support you’re offering?
  • What does the reader need to know? How can you say this with absolute minimum?
  • How are you encouraging to interact?
  • If I wasn’t there, how would I explain it?
  • How might someone approach it?
  • Framework, encouragement, help, invitation. Can be a very light touch, not in words at all.

…

After that discussion, I made quick trials, using the same shape, but with lyrics of different moods, trying to reflect them in colour and translucency of used materials.