OUGD603 - Guidebook - Initial Ideas (Layout)

Some initial layout idea sketches were developed in order to visualise how text and image could be formatted throughout the book, using ideas based on research.

1. This first idea was based on visual research into arts and crafts typography, whereby a lot of typographic content seemed to be enclosed within borders and margins. This also looks at how the first letter of each paragraph of text could use a larger, ornamental design, with the rest of the text flowing around this.

2. Based on arts and crafts book design where negative space is an important feature, and text and image is kept to a certain formatted shape, using justified text to fill the shape.

3. This idea explores how architectural and structural features found in the arts and crafts movement could be utilised in the layout design of the book. For instance, stripes and planks of exposed wood are evident in a lot of arts and crafts architecture, including buildings. This style could potentially be used as an ornamental feature at the top of all or some pages.

4&5. These ideas explores overlaying text and image, creating an asymmetrical layout (a feature evident in arts and crafts architecture) that leaves a lot of negative space around the spread. This idea of negative space also allows representation of arts and crafts book design, whereby text would be formatted to a small shape near the centre of the book.

6. This idea explores how content and layouts could be split into threes in order to represent the 3 magnets idea which proposed the development of the town.

7&8. Ideas 7 and 8 look at adding ornamental features to the book as headers and footers, styles which would typically be seen around the edges of roofs in arts and crafts architecture, as well as type and book design features.

9. This idea is an additional idea for the cover and bind of the book. In order to keep a focus on the arts and crafts style, patterned fabric similar to the style of William Morris' work could be used, with a different complementary coloured fabric encasing the spine then overlapping onto the cover slightly. In the middle of this a small white shape could be cut featuring the title of the book, keeping text to a minimum. This design could potentially be screen-printed in order to show an aspect of traditional craftsmanship, found in the arts and crafts movement.

In addition, contents could be split into zones based on Ebenezer Howard's zoning system and the 3 magnets, splitting content into the sections 'town', 'country', 'town-country' and 'the people'.