What’s my favorite subject? Me, of course. So, Blurb has been doing live events, and I have to say, I love it. I love our team. Cool, talented bookmakers, doing things on the side. Ultra races, long-distance hikes, handmade books, surfing, Muay Thai fights……YES. This is who we are. Blurb isn’t your average, run-of-the-mill chop shop looking to sell Buicks for minimal margin. Blurb has always been a bit off, and that’s why we like it.
Why on Earth would I be doing a live event about book design?
Cause I know more than you. Not all of you, just some of you. I look at books. A lot of books. And I mean A LOT of books. Not to mention, I look at a lot of work that is destined to become books, so this qualifies me to tell you about you. Believe me, when it comes to photography and photobooks, I still feel like an imposter. I feel the same about my marketing chops. Fifteen years on a marketing team, but if someone asked me what I know about marketing, I’d say, “Next to nothing.”
It’s for these reasons that I feel I’m a decent choice for a live design event. I’m closer to you than someone who has spent their entire life in the design space. The way I see it, get through me to get to them. I will help you with the basics. Get better at those, then move toward the light of elite design. The good news? I see the same mistakes again and again, all of which are easily fixable. For those of you who tuned in live or submitted your work, thank you! So, with this in mind, have a look and a listen.
Comments 2
Lots to learn from this event, even (especially) if you spent a good part of your life as a graphic designer. Book design, and photo book design specifically, is another animal, different from exhibit design and most other print. And designing for your own precious photos adds a level of blindness to your judgement. Watch and learn.
Author
Ha, you are right about the blindness.