02 | Editorial Design
Creative Writing, Editorial Design, and Editorial Imaging
2023 Loeries Finalist in the Student Publication Design Category
Project Brief
This project required the conceptualisation and creation of the concept for a hardcover book focusing on a person with a Story Worth Telling as the subject of the book. When choosing a subject they had to be over the age of thirty, with an interesting life story; however could not be direct family. Interviews were conducted to learn about this person's story before it was written in story format. Any genre and narrative perspective could be used as long as it was fitting to the subject matter. Once text had been generated, original imagery then had to be created to accompany the text, followed by the layout process whereby spreads were designed. It was not required for the entire book to be created, only specific sections were to be designed, including the design of one full chapter. The book's target audience was bibliophile adults.
Project Deliverables
01. A3 presentation boards (a minimum of 4) showing all designed spreads in mocked up format.
02. A single PDF file showing all required flats including:
- Dust jacket or outer cover
- Inner cover
- 2 different endpapers
- Title page
- Imprint/copyright page
- Contents page
- 1 Completed chapter (minimum 4 spreads)
- 3 Additional chapters consisting of a title spread and one additional spread
Design Strategy
Mirjana Christiane is not the average 90 year old. Her life has been filled with loss, survival, compassion and triumph. But, to her, it is "just what was". Poznanovich: Seen and Understood is an illustrated coffee-table novel (210mm x 331mm) that tells her story. Mirjana is a close friend of my grandmother. She grew up with her mother and three siblings in Herceg-Novi, Yugoslavia during the Second World War where her family was heavily involved in the resistance movements against the various occupation forces at that time. Her manner of recall is deeply reflective with a profound outlook that everything that she has experienced is just what was: There was nothing to do to change the events that occurred, and it is what has made her who she is. This sentiment became the central concept of the book - It is a book about reflection and gaining retrospective understanding.
After many in-person interviews with Mirjana, I was able write a fictionalised story based on her memories of her childhood, adolescence and adulthood. The book tells the story of war occupations, resistance efforts, escape from Soviet rule, new beginnings, finding love, and ultimately, growing up. The title of the book, Poznanovich, is Mirjana's maiden name (and that of her siblings who also feature in the book). The english translation of Poznanovich loosely means 'to understand' or 'gain knowledge'. This lends itself to the subtitle of the book Seen and Understood, which in turn summarises the main theme of the book: Reflecting on the past in order to find understanding of identity in the present. The book is written in first person perspective from the point of view of present day Mirjana reflecting on past events. Mirjana's story is heart-wrenching, but also filled with memories of compassion from strangers and the endurance of her and her siblings.
All the illustrations are hand-painted in coffee, blue ink, gouache, and coloured pencils to give the novel a personalised and emotive feel that would appeal to bibliophile adults. The illustrations are enveloping and textured with abstract backgrounds to engage the reader. Happier memories are depicted in brown ochres, with sadder and more difficult to recall memories taking on darker tones. A serif font was chosen to represent the old-school, profound, and wise nature of Mirjana, and a hand written font was used for headings to mimic the reflective and personal tone of the book. It is a novel designed to depict a Story Worth Telling.
Setting the Scene
Process Work
To view all development and process work, please see here.
When approaching this project, many in person interviews were conducted with Mirjana. Notes taken during those interviews were then used as the basis for the written story. Mirjana also shared photographs, books, and maps of the area that she grew up in. These were used as the basis for the eventual colour palette.
Illustrative Style Moodboard
The book's final illustrations are inspired by gentle ink washes that give a type of abstract quality to the book that speaks to the fading nature of memory and recall. Illustrations use pen and pencil to add detail to the more abstract washes which ground the images whilst still maintaining interest with the washes.
Design and Layout Style Moodboard
The layouts were inspired by large enveloping illustrations, paired with mature typesetting. At times, the illustrations and the backgrounds merge into eachother to create a seamless transition. The final book's binding is hard-cover case-binding to ensure durability - the story speaks about endurance, so the book should also be long lasting.
Media Tests and Interview Notes
Hand-rendered media was chosen to give the book a more personal touch and link directly to elements in the story. Coffee painting links to Mirjana's mother sending coffee beans as payment for kindness. Charcoal is fitting for the darkness in parts of the narrative, but also speaks to the fleeting nature of memory. Ink washes and abstract textures again speak to the flux nature of recall, whilst the hand-painterly style speaks to the personal account and reflective style of the book. As the book is written in first person perspective, the writing and recall is done as if through the eyes of a child. Many of the illustrations further carry this theme in their simplicity.
Typography and Colour Palette
The handwritten style of type for titles offers a personal touch that mimics the personal nature of both Mirjana's story and the writing style. It also compliments the chosen illustrative style. The serif type for body copy and subtitles communicates Mirjana's characteristics: old-fashioned, profound, and wise. The serif is also fitting for the historical nature of the book and gives the book a sense of timelessness which is fitting for the book's reflective theme.
The colour palette that is carried throughout the book was largely inspired by the blue and ochre tones from maps of Herceg-Novi - colours that are also mirrored by the coffee and ink mediums. The tone of the book is quite serious, despite parts that are somber or humorous. Because of this, a more muted colour palette was chosen to fit the tone of the writing. Blues, browns, ochres, and greys are used throughout in the design that match the colours of the illustrations.
Final Presentation Boards
The presentation boards showcase the book and final spreads. To view all flat spreads in PDF format, please see here.
Book Dimensions
180gsm paper. Matt and uncoated to give give the colours a more muted finish.
Approximately 240 pages
180gsm paper. Matt and uncoated to give give the colours a more muted finish.
Approximately 240 pages
Spine width: 3 cm
Page width: 21 cm
Spread width: 420 cm
Page height: 33,15 cm
Dust jacket flap width: 8 cm
Page width: 21 cm
Spread width: 420 cm
Page height: 33,15 cm
Dust jacket flap width: 8 cm
Chapter 1 introduces Mirjana’s feelings about the war and her memories about looking back on it and understanding how it has shaped her life. She speaks about her feelings at the end of the war and then links them back to the beginning. This chapter chronicles her family’s journey to Yugoslavia and the first two years there. She also explains her family’s history and how that led to the decision to relocate. The chapter also looks into the collapse of her father’s business which led to the separation of the family, coinciding with the start of the war.
Chapter 2 explores the beginning of the war and how the Poznanovich's became involved in the anti-Nazi, -fascist, and -communist resistance efforts. The chapter details the Italian occupation of Herceg-Novi beginning in 1941 up until 1943. Mirjana remembers the kindness of the Italians who would play games with them in the streets; and against her mother's wishes, bring them sweets. She speaks about the day-to-day happenings for a child in the war. This contrasts with the later treatments given by the Germans and the Soviets after they claimed Herceg-Novi. This chapter also brings up history about why the town was a sought after stronghold.
Chapter 3 focuses on Branko, Mirjana’s brother, a young boy who was forced to become the man of the house. He worked for the underground resistance that was based in Herceg-Novi. At only 14 he smuggled intelligence to resistance hideouts in the mountains. This chapter also describes Mirjana’s experiences of being left alone with her sister and baby brother whilst her mother would travel to nearby towns to trade for food. She speaks about the German conscription of Polish boys and the devastating loss of life that she witnessed. She also recalls the kindness of the community in Herceg-Novi that would offer supplies to the Poznanovich children during their mother's absence.
In chapter 4, Amazing Deprivation, Mirjana explains the persecution of her mother as a result of her three uncles' leadership positions in the resistance movements. This chapter marks a shift in the war in Herceg-Novi in 1944. Mirjana speaks about the German occupation and their treatment of her family. Their house was occupied by the Germans as a head-quarters and her uncles became fugitives wanted by German authorities. The Nazis attempted to enforce German culture on all the people in the town. Mirjana also speaks about the capture and conversion to communism of one of her uncles.
hapter 5, The Trojan Donkey, speaks about another one of Mirjana’s uncles who kept the family alive by bringing them supplies from his farm in the mountains. He would transport farm produce into town through the use of a donkey. The chapter details how Mirjana’s mother’s family would all help each other. In this chapter, Mirjana also explains the final events that lead to her mother seeking help for their escape from the occupied area. The story follows how her grandmother, whilst visiting the resistance camp with supplies, discovered her eldest son and all other camp occupants dead at the hands of the Nazis. Mirjana ends by explaining the Soviet "liberation" of Herceg-Novi, and how it was actually just another occupation for them.
Mirjana details the family’s escape from Yugoslavia with the help of the British and their journey home to South Africa in chapter 6. She speaks about how her mother and father struggled to adjust to each other after their reunion. She also explains how her mother would send coffee bean as a token of thanks to the kind strangers in Herceg-Novi who had helped the family throughout the war.
In chapter 7, A New Normal, the story of her parents' butcher shop is told. Mirjana speaks about her relationship with her sister who encouraged Mirjana to become a South African provincial basketball player. It also speaks about the grudge Brando held against their father for his absence during the war and their subsequent fallout.
Four Moving Apart
A Cat Named Sunny-boy is the final chapter and serves as the epilogue to the story. Mirjana reflects on the entirety of her life, the loss of her husband, and how she came to find peace and quiet in retirement, with her 22 year old cat. She says that her story is "just what was."
The printed presentation boards for this project can be seen on display at the 2023 Information Design Exhibition in the Annex of the University of Pretoria Visual Arts Building.
