This is what a semester's worth of work looks like! Great job, everyone.

1. Your book

Two copies of your book will be required. One will become part of the VCD design library, the other will be handed back with notes. Even if you encounter problems with delivery of your book or output issues, it is your responsibility to make sure that you have these two copies available at the start of class.

2. Promo piece

Consider how your book can be promoted and design something accordingly. In a most basic sense, an advertising postcard about the book would be adequate. But consider your book's topic and audience... perhaps a special package? An online viral campaign? A commercial or film? More complex ideas can be storyboarded and do not need to be completed. We are interested in the idea, professionally presented.

3. Process

Please include highlights of your research and design process for the semester. This does not have to be complicated, but should be a clean, organized view of your process and roughs and mockups. Again, it should be professional and organized.

4. Presentation

Be prepared to present your book in front of the class. Pretend that we have not yet heard of your book and you are presenting the idea for the first time. 3-5 minute presentation, plus feedback from the glass.

The critique will start at 9am and everyone must be present, books in hand. Books handed in after 9 will be docked marks, and not handing in a book by 5pm on December 7 may result in an F.

On Press! Camilla Engman: The Suitcase Series from UPPERCASE gallery on Vimeo.

Printcrafters, Winnipeg
November 9, 2009

(Music by The Postal Service, photos and video taken with the iPhone 3GS=awesome)

Pre-order the book here.

Hi everyone: Janine is press checking her latest publishing effort in Winnipeg and I am stuck in Missouri. However, I have arranged for a guest to come for the morning to talk to you and offer her perspective and advice. Her name is Sabrina Kaun and she graduated from ACAD three years ago. She is a very talented and sought after art director and designer.

I would suggest that you work hard on your projects in the afternoon. In the interests of keeping everybody on track Janine and I would like to see full mockups of your books for the 16th. That means everybody. We will have a critque of them on that day.

- Alan

You should be in page design mode at this point: there are just a handful of classes until the book is due on December 7 less the time the project will need for production. Please use your time wisely. Double-check your project schedule and make sure you're on track.

For next week, you are required to have the cover design and sample pages to present to the class (printed out at actual size, please). The pages should contain your actual copy and imagery.

NOVEMBER 9 -- 9am: covers and sample pages due

Schedule/project change: we were asking you to produce an advertising postcard in the next few weeks, but the due date for this promotional item will be with your final book. Some students want to explore media other than print (ie motion graphics, web) to promote their project, so we are opening it up to you: what would be a suitable piece to promote your book? Is it a special package for the book? A poster? A postcard? A point of sale? A website? A commercial?

If you sign up with Blurb and Lulu, they send regular promotional offers. Here are the latest offers.

20% off at Blurb with the code: BLURBTREAT

Their fine print: *Offer valid through 11/24/09 (11:59 p.m. PST). This offer is good for 20% off the product total for Blurb books made by you, and covers up to $100 off the product total. Not valid toward the purchase of gift cards – or any other items in the upcoming Blurb Gift Center. Offer extends to any Blurb user and covers free ground shipping up to $7.99 for up to five books to one address and is valid for transactions in US $ only. This offer is good for one-time use and cannot be combined with any other offer.

20% off at Lulu with the code: TREASURE

Their fine print: *Disclaimer: Enter coupon code 'TREASURE' at checkout and save 20% off your next photo book purchase - maximum discount $75 per account. Discount cannot be used to pay for, nor shall be applied to, applicable taxes or shipping and handling charges. Promotional codes cannot be applied to any previous order. No exchanges or substitutions allowed. Only one valid coupon code may be used per account. Offer expires on 11/1/09 at 11:59 PM GMT. Lulu.com reserves the right to change or revoke this offer at any time. Void where prohibited.

You should all be at the stage where you're working on rough page designs and taking your pencil sketches to the computer for more precise page designs.

You should be using Indesign when laying out your book and it is important to set your files up correctly now to avoid extra work at the end when preparing your final files for printing. Providing print-ready pdf files is becoming the industry standard for sending projects to print.

Here's a link to an article that describes the basics of setting up Indesign files for printing. (download pdf here.)

Things to remember:

- for typical print jobs, image files must be at 300dpi at actual print size. You may be able to get away with a lower resolution for digital printing on this project; consult with your output provider.

- include at least 0.125" - 0.25" bleed around your document when setting it up. Again, consult with your printer or review the specs on their website.

Blurb: pdf to book resource

Lulu: how to make a pdf

Blitzprint: pdf info

Using someplace else? Ask them for their pdf requirements. They usually can provide detailed instructions.

By this stage of the project, you should be conceptualizing the design of the book - its pacing, page design and cover concepts. For next week, please have rough designs underway and be prepared to present either rough cover designs or page designs (or both!) You should also start working on your three information graphics and how they will be integrated with your page design.

Continue refining your content, writing and research.

Flowing Prints

Graphic design thesis

Typeface classification

Nonsense info graphics

Good magazine infographics

click here to read

click here to read

Simple Complexity  (lots of good stuff here)

"Komboh is comprised of two individuals who realized that working together solved more problems than it produced." Michael Mateyko and Hans Thiessen, recent graduates from the Alberta College of Art & Design joined forces to form this company. Michael provided some excellent illustrations for the current issue of UPPERCASE. Here's his image for "Fedora", below. Thanks to Michael and Hans for visiting my fourth year design class on Monday, October 19.