Overview
Research : book themes and topics on traveling, photography and Japan.
Concept : find relevant solutions that suit the content of the book.
Development : experimenting layouts, placements, typefaces, images, illustrations and colours.
Iterations : changes and refinements based on peer reviews.
Iterations
There are a few iterations based on peer reviews on what they feel is right and look for in a travel photo journal.
At first I thought of creating something colourful with all the vector art to make it feel alive.
However, the different vector art tend to lack consistency throughout the book and may overwhelm readers.
So I opt for something simple which focuses more on the photos and stories, like a travel diary.
Version 1 Version 2 Version 3 Version 4
Self Reflection
The greatest challenge to me is finding the right typeface which suits the overall look and feel that I am looking for, which complements the photos used. Something which reflects tradition and a personal touch with the handwritten type of fonts used for the headings and sub-headings while using the serif fonts for the main body text to ensure readability.
The design process is similar to that of app and web designs, where the early stage is wire-framing to determine the layouts and placements before working on the visual design. The difference is that for print design, I will have to consider the print material. Will it be hardcopy or soft copy cover? Will it be a thin or thick paper? Will it be a matt surface or glossy? What size?
Ultimately, it depends on the budget and printers limitations as well as the material quality. So in reality, designers have to discuss the process with the printers before actual printing. Print design is unique and challenging as it is something that you design for users to hold, touch and pore over in a very physical way, so it's manifestation as an object is important for designers.