Extraordinary Books

We were given a list of 30 possible concepts for books,  from this list I managed to cut it down to 13 ideas which i could work with.  I definitely think this was one of the best briefs I have been set so far, as the are no boundaries and countless opportunities for creativeness.  The three I narrowed it down to where:  

A Concealing Book

As a child i always loved in movies when a character had something secrete hidden in a book.  So i decided to create a book that concealed something on the inside but on the outside looked like an ordinary hard back book.  Firstly I cut out almost all the middles of the pages of a book to create the place to conceal the object.  I left the first few pages complete in order to create a greater illusion of a normal book.  To finnish it of I cowered the hiding place in an army acrylic print.

A Floating Book

There is always the dilemma of 'should I read in the bath?' Because if it is dropped it will get soaked and be ruined.  so I decided to make a book made out of cork as it is a material that floats.  I added a plug and chain to create a more bath time feel,  it would also be quite useful as long as the chain was long enough! 

A Temporary Book

When I saw this title it automatically conjured up images of ancient volumes which have to be handled while wearing gloves to protect their delicate pages.  I created this book which has to be handled using tweezers as the paper can disperse when wet which would ruin it.  I attached a pair of tweezers to the cover using a fine black thread.

I like the idea of books having a purpose and/or solves a problem.  Also the idea of as well as being able to be read they have a function.

We then had to develop and duplicate one of our ideas.  I decided on the 'Floating Book' as it had the most potential for development.  I made the book entirely water proof. Even the pages were waterproof as I printed the text onto semitransparent shower curtain.  The text was a short poem designed for children about bath time.  I also switched the handmade chain for a more realistic bath chain.