OUGD404: Study Task 4 - Book Definition

What is a book?

Definitions of a book:

1. A handwritten or printed work of fiction or nonfiction, usually on sheets of paper fastened or bound together within covers.
2. A work of fiction or nonfiction in an electronic format
3. A number of sheets of blank or ruled paper bound together for writing, recording business transactions, etc.
4. A division of a literary work, especially one of the larger divisions.

There are a range of different things to consider when making a book, especially an art based book. Typically, most common books are generally made at a cheap price without much thought put into the different aspects of the book such as the stock, binding method, layout, typography, colour etc. But a well designed book can potentially be a work of art in itself.

Layout is absolutely key when it comes to books or any kind of editorial design for that matter, as it can make or break a book. Having a well laid out book can often interest people more into reading, especially me, even if the content itself isn't all that interesting. What I like most about the book above is how clean and clear the layout is, it makes reading much easier as the columns are of a perfect size and also the balance between pictures and text is appropriate.

The binding of a book can also be something to consider as it can make a big difference appearance wise. For example if your book is very authentic and hand made, something like a stitched binding method would seem more appropriate whereas a contemporary art book may work better with a 'Perfect Bound' method to fit better with the overall aesthetic of the book.

The stock used within a book is another aspect to consider as this makes a big difference to how to book looks and feels. Considering both the material used and then also the weight of that material is something that shouldn't be overlooked as it can bring a better quality feel and appearance and is something that I want to properly consider for my publication. For example, G.F Smith have a range of different stocks to use ranging from around 115gsm to around 750gsm. Given the wide range, obviously choosing an appropriate stock isn't always easy and should be something that's given a lot of thought.