This project was loosely based on the 2015/16 ISTD (International Society of Typographic Designers) brief 'The Undiscovered Country' which challenged designers to design and produce a publication that 'stares death in the face'.
I chose to design the booklet as a 16 page 'field guide' informing the reader about Thanatology, the study of death and dying, with a contrasting blue 'dust jacket'.
The booklet and poster were created almost entirely in Adobe Indesign. The limitation was to use typography for the majority of the design, not illustration or photography.
The concept of my design was to show the mirrored contrast between life and death, through design contrast; contrast between the two main typefaces, Baskerville and Futura, contrast between the dark blue ink/paper and the white of the booklet paper and contrast used in the hierarchy and layout of the typography itself. An example of this can be seen on the “Theories and Practises page” – and on the ”Goals of Thanatology” page – with the ghostly reflections of the type mirrored below, further playing on the concept of death being a reflection of life.
The 'dust jacket' was printed with a silver foil on Colourplan Cobalt paper by Dynamic Print in Norwich, England.
Thank you and I hope you enjoy!
I chose to design the booklet as a 16 page 'field guide' informing the reader about Thanatology, the study of death and dying, with a contrasting blue 'dust jacket'.
The booklet and poster were created almost entirely in Adobe Indesign. The limitation was to use typography for the majority of the design, not illustration or photography.
The concept of my design was to show the mirrored contrast between life and death, through design contrast; contrast between the two main typefaces, Baskerville and Futura, contrast between the dark blue ink/paper and the white of the booklet paper and contrast used in the hierarchy and layout of the typography itself. An example of this can be seen on the “Theories and Practises page” – and on the ”Goals of Thanatology” page – with the ghostly reflections of the type mirrored below, further playing on the concept of death being a reflection of life.
The 'dust jacket' was printed with a silver foil on Colourplan Cobalt paper by Dynamic Print in Norwich, England.
Thank you and I hope you enjoy!
Dust jacket front cover with silver foiled title typography
Dust jacket back cover with silver foiled skull illustration
Dust jacket opening to show booklet front cover in reversed colours
Side by side dust jacket and booklet front covers
Booklet back cover with blue skull illustration
Booklet spread with Thanatology word design and the dictionary definition
Booklet spread on the origins of Thanatology as a field of study
Booklet spread on the Theories and Practises of Thanatology
Booklet spread on the Five Stages of Grief by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Booklet spread on Music-Thanatology – using music to relax terminal patients to improve mental and physical well-being
Booklet spread on Thanatosensitivity – how death is dealt with online
Booklet spread on the Goals of Thanatology as a field of study
A2 Poster based on the design from the first spread of the booklet
