Flatland
ISTD competition brief , awarded MISTD
ISTD competition brief , awarded MISTD
With the brief ‘Flatland’, International Society of Typographic Designers challenged designers to create a new version of the novel, that would break away from the conventions of the book format. The novel tells the story of a Square that lives in a flat world, until he is taken to the 3-D one by a Sphere.
The centerpiece of my proposal is a print item which deals the text of one of the 22 chapters of Flatland. The print item starts as a flat surface and by unfolding is turned into a 3-D object. There are two more changes of form. Finally, by unfolding once more, it returns to its original form (Flatland), like the main character in the book.
A paper slipcase was designed for the print item, as well as a box packaging solution which would hold the items for all 22 chapters of the book.
The project received positive feedback from ISTD and was awarded an accreditation.
The centerpiece of my proposal is a print item which deals the text of one of the 22 chapters of Flatland. The print item starts as a flat surface and by unfolding is turned into a 3-D object. There are two more changes of form. Finally, by unfolding once more, it returns to its original form (Flatland), like the main character in the book.
A paper slipcase was designed for the print item, as well as a box packaging solution which would hold the items for all 22 chapters of the book.
The project received positive feedback from ISTD and was awarded an accreditation.
The box packaging solution is made from MDF and includes an etched plastic plaque. It holds all the 'chapters' of the novel, in their slipcases, making it a re-imagining of the book format. It also relates to the three worlds mentioned in the book (Spaceland, Flatland, Lineland): the box itself is a Spaceland, the plaque is a Flatland and the back of each slipcase is a Lineland.
Paper slipcase for the main print item and instruction leaflet. The visual style was influenced by documentation for flatpack furniture.
Main print item - Form A
Flatland itself. The text talks about its inhabitants, which are geometric shapes, and this is reflected visually. The Sphere, which went on to take the Square to the 3-D world, leaves its first trace as a single circle.
Flatland itself. The text talks about its inhabitants, which are geometric shapes, and this is reflected visually. The Sphere, which went on to take the Square to the 3-D world, leaves its first trace as a single circle.
Main print item - Form B
By unfolding, the item becomes 3-D. The text talks about lines and the style changes accordingly. Colour, a feature of Spaceland, begins to have a stronger presence.
By unfolding, the item becomes 3-D. The text talks about lines and the style changes accordingly. Colour, a feature of Spaceland, begins to have a stronger presence.
Main item – Form C
Traces of multiple circles with changing diameters, signs of a Sphere moving upwards / northwards while intersecting Flatland. In doing so, the shapes also begin to indicate volume. More colours appear and their presence becomes more intense.
Traces of multiple circles with changing diameters, signs of a Sphere moving upwards / northwards while intersecting Flatland. In doing so, the shapes also begin to indicate volume. More colours appear and their presence becomes more intense.
Main item – Form D
Spaceland, represented by full colour and strong hints of volume.
By unfolding once more, the user is eventually returned to Flatland ('Form A') like the character in the book.
Spaceland, represented by full colour and strong hints of volume.
By unfolding once more, the user is eventually returned to Flatland ('Form A') like the character in the book.
