OUGD404 Brief 2 - What is a book?

The Brief 

Produce a set of 10 Double page layouts that explore the form, function 

and construction of a book.
Your ongoing visual investigation of content should demonstrate a growing 

understanding of the fundamental principles of type, grid, layout and 

format that will (and have) been introduced during studio sessions and 

workshops. Use these as a staring point to develop a set series or sequence 

of page layouts that effectively communicates your chosen content.
Your 10 layouts should include a contents page and introduction to the content.
This brief will be supported by talks and workshops.

Considerations

As designers it is your job to help the reader read the words by positioning 

text and images in such a way as to be appropriate for the content but also 

navigable by the human eye. This is true for any layout whether it’s for a 

glossy fashion spread, reportage or an instruction booklet.
To be creative but effective with type it is essential that you have a clear grasp 

of the fundamental principles of type composition. It’s great to break the 

rules but learn them first, understand what you’re looking at and make informed 

design decisions
Start by producing mini thumbnail compositions to your chosen layout on 

layout paper with blocked-in positions of type and image giving consideration 

to the possible underlying grid. Using markers, felt pens etc, greek-in to render 

your layout so it has the weight and impact of an actual print. You are aiming to 

simulate in miniature how it would appear if actually printed.

You should produce work through drawing and specifying layouts and making 

blog entries that demonstrates that you understand the following:

• Grid 
• Sub-heads 
• DPS 
• Rules & Boxes
• Columns 
• Paragraphs 
• Drop caps 
• Folio 
• Numbers
• Gutters 
• Images 
• Headlines 
• Pagination
• Margins 
• Captions 
• Measures
• Imposition

How do you best demonstrate all that? First check what the words mean 

and design a layout that includes much of, but not necessarily all of the 

above.
As a body of work you will have a de-constructed mark-up of an original 

layout, New thumbnail layout ideas, and a drawn, full scale dimensioned 

new layout.

Requirements

All practical development and investigation should be documented on your 

Design Practice blog and labeled OUGD404 plus the relevant task number.
Any research in to contextual references relating to sessions, tasks and briefs 

should be posted to your Design Practice blog and labeled OUGD404 plus 

the relevant task number (where necessary)

Deliverables

A set series or sequence of 10 page layouts that effectively communicate

your chosen content.

A body of development work produced in response to set tasks documented 

on appropriate blogs. This should include evidence of thumbnails, test pieces 

and trial layouts produced during the development of your final resolution.
evidence of independent investigation into Design principles of Type, Image, 

Layout, Composition and Colour as briefed.