BOOK DESIGN UPDATE

Good morning. How are you? I hope you had a good weekend and that the summer isn't too, too sticky where you are. I just wanted to send a quick sign of life. I owe you a new Open Source Ink Blot, and there are some really wonderful Open Source Monsters waiting for you courtesy of Emily Wong, Tiffany Nelson, Nancy Pene, and Danielle Ngo. I'll post them very soon. (I'm shooting for tonight, in fact.) You'll also find a new Weekly Monster here on Wednesday. Promise! You can check out some cool new Tallest Monster segments by Eliza Loon at tallestmonster.com right now.

I'm a bit behind on my blogging, because I'm finally in the full swing of designing the Monster Book. Here is a look at the final cover (with once-again redrawn type and everything!):

I hope you like it. Starting right now, I'm going to post a photo of the book map each day. The book map is my master log of what pages I've designed. If it's got a black dot on it, it's done---not counting the hand-lettering on each spread, of course, which I'll do after Amy (my editor) signs off on the text. I did 6 spreads today. Right now I can't really see straight anymore, but I think it's going to be a fun book!

There you have it. It's a little look at the progress, and a little end-of-day treat for me. I hope you'll forgive me the indulgence.

For now, I'm signing off. It's been a long day. I hope to see you again on Wednesday! Until then, you can count on the fact that 344 LOVES YOU

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P.S.: I almost forgot: Did I mention that the David Hockney Catalog is finally done and back from the printer and no longer a semi-secret? Talk about your once-in-a-lifetime project. Check it out! That's 15"x9" right there! Can you see the sliver of double-hit PMS hot pink from the inside of the dust jacket?

Comments

[Inanna]

Oh, Wow.....a hot pink 15 incher!
What could be more fun???

Another great job by the monster master.

[Emily Wong]

Hi Stefan,

Nice to see the monster book is coming along. I'm all giddy with excitement!

And hot pink is such an underused colour. Kudos for including it in your work.

Cheers,
Emily

[Simon Zirkunow]

You’re such a tease :)
I can’t wait for these two gorgeous books come to life at the printer.

[Simon Zirkunow]

And now work, work, work, work, rest, rest, rest, work ... ;-)

[Sam B.]

Hot pink is great and all, but how 'bout some embossing, debossing or foil stamping? Huh? Any die cuts? Didn't think so.

Seriously though, nice work. Can't wait to check out the Hockney book in person.

I always love getting things back from the printer. It's like the project isn't real until you can hold the finished book in your hands (and smell the deliciously noxious fumes from the bindery process).

And the monster book looks great too. Thanks for the glimpse into your production process. It's nice to see how other designers work. I wish I were more methodical.

[Stefan G. Bucher]

Hey Sam: Who do you take me for? There's a white foil stamp deboss on the cloth cover and spine of the book itself. Does that satisfy your needs? Huh? Does it?! ... I thought so!

The only reason I'm methodical, by the way, is because I work alone. On these long-form projects I just need some sort of structure to work with. Otherwise it all becomes too disjointed. In the meantime, funny coincidence: "The Noxious Fumes" is the name of my band.

[Sam B.]

I always loved your hit song, "Inert and Corrosive."

[Stefan G. Bucher]

Don't forget the B-side "I Wanna Be Adhesive"

[Sam B.]

Its so good it sticks with you.

[Stefan G. Bucher]

Oh Lord!

[Sam B.]

Yeah, I shoulda stopped while I was ahead.

[joergonline]

Where can I buy the Hockney catalog? Must have one!

[b13]

That's looking good :) check today's post for your award ;)

[Stefan G. Bucher]

Hiya Joerg.

You can order the catalog
exclusively from the gallery:

L.A. Louver
45 North Venice Boulevard
Venice, California 90291
tel: 310.822.4955
fax: 310.821.7529
info@lalouver.com