A vastly experienced Swiss book-designer explains his trade with plentiful illustrations of designed books. Two complementary components are added: an essay by Hochuli on some dogmas of typography, and arguing for an attitude of critical openness of mind; and reproduction of books designed by Hochuli himself, with analytical captions by Kinross.
| availability | in print |
| published | 2003.05.29 |
| extent | 168 pp |
| dimensions | 255 × 170 mm |
| illustrations | 240 two-colour pictures |
| binding | sewn & flapped paperback |
| ISBN | 0-907259-23-5 |
| ISBN13 | 978-0-907259-23-7 |
| £17.50 |
In his chapter on Total Design Hochuli says: ‘Whatever design principle is followed, all parts of a book should rest equally on a unified plan, so that the same elements are treated in the same way, from the first to the last page.’ This has never been achieved by any set of rules. It calls for solid reasoning with oneself. Reasoning has never been a luxury, nor has it been the preserve of printers, designers and compositors of type anywhere in the world.
Hochuli needs less than fifty pages and Kinross just over five to start any book reader thinking for himself or herself about book design as a school of thought and not as a trend or a fashion.
Fernand Baudin, Logos, vol. 8, no. 3, 1997
