Assignment: "You are to visualize the city of Sundsvall by critically reflecting on what the beauty of a city is, should be, and can be. Analyze the significance of the word 'beauty' and, based on your conclusions, create a visualization in words and images of the city of Sundsvall. Present your visualization in the form of a book."
A detailed structure for the various facades I wanted to photograph for the book.
Strategy: Methodically, I developed my visualization through an ideation phase, prototype phase, and design phase. I explored the city, delved into old library archives, spoke with residents, and examined the word "beauty". Eventually, I landed on my personal connection to the city, my initial encounter with the city, and the beauty I discovered then. The foundation lay in my love for facades and the phenomenon of lifting one's gaze during a city stroll to discover details one has never seen before. I wanted to visualize this in a photo book showcasing a selection of facades around the city.
Grid System and Layout: To consistently work with beauty in the design language, I employed the golden ratio as a cornerstone in the book design. The entire book follows a grid system and layout that I developed using the golden spiral, contributing to the structure and uniformity across the various pages.
Craftsmanship: I bound and sewed the book by hand, as well as created the book cover. In the process, I foiled the text and ornaments adorning the book. The content is printed on high-gloss coated paper, exceptionally white to ensure excellent color reproduction of the photographs. The cover is entirely clad in moss green cloth, symbolizing the beautiful nature and greenery surrounding Sundsvall. The book is enclosed in a yellow protective cover, its front adorned with one of Sundsvall's beautiful facades, giving the entire book the appearance of a house facade.
Result: The theme of the photo book was the neo-Renaissance houses built after Sundsvall the city fire in 1888. These houses make the city particularly unique, as Sundsvall is the only Swedish city that still has a complete city center consisting of neo-Renaissance houses. The book is grounded in the values of beauty, harmony, and grandeur. All photographs are taken by me, and the book is written, typeset, designed, and hand-bound by me.
Techniques: Photography, Book Design, Typography, Bookbinding.
