Seeing Through the Trouble

Book coverSeeing Through the Trouble
Book coverSeeing Through the Trouble
Book coverSeeing Through the Trouble
Book coverSeeing Through the Trouble

Someone who does not have the experience of teaching design could be forgiven for overlooking this publication. As a graduation project from HKU University of the Arts Utrecht, the designers also took on the role of author and researcher, going in search of various philosophical perspectives for their socially urgent investigation of oil pollution in the ocean, before visualising this within existing print techniques in the form of a paper publication. This elaborate and somewhat abstract piece of student research is therefore for ‘insiders’, but also attains a level that justifies inclusion of this book in the selection for 2020.

The consistent design leads the viewer, through the best table of contents we saw, into the abstract topic. The material collated and generated is intriguing. A stunning piece of planography in blue at its heart. The more we leaf, the more we see what is happening. In spite of its somewhat hermetic quality, the book feels fantastic.

It is a pleasure to see how designers just starting out on their careers have used the book and typography to represent their research. Not only does this give rise to hope, it is also very stimulating: a fully-fledged farewell for a student ready to fly the nest.

The practical legibility of the text on the back gave rise to much discussion. We understand that this is in line with the autonomous concept, but some members of the jury wondered whether this might not be a little too obvious.

Edition: 2020
Date of publication: June 2020
Author: Studio CXM
Language: English
Image editor: Studio CXM (Celina Elberse Tourné, Maureen Walschot)
Artist: Studio CXM (Celina Elberse Tourné, Maureen Walschot)
Publisher: Studio CXM (Celina Elberse Tourné, Maureen Walschot), Utrecht, Antwerpen
Graphic designer: Maureen Walschot (Eindhoven), Celina Elberse Tourné (Antwerpen)
Lithographer: NPN Drukkers, Breda
Printer: NPN Drukkers, Breda
Binder: Handboekbinderij G.J. Meijer, Nijmegen
Size book block (w x h x d in mm): 164 x 240 x 8
Number of pages: 112
Print run: 100
Price: € 20
ISBN: -
Font and foundry: Palatino (Linotype)
Binding style: Sewn hardback with front and back cover of four pages sewn in, transparently glued-off spine (hot melt); dust jacket printed on both sides
Paper for interior (grammage): 115gsm Circle Offset Premium White CIE145, 115gsm Recystar® Nature, Igepa, Papyrus
Material cover (grammage): 300gsm Circle Offset Premium White CIE145, Igepa
Special features: Book block sewn with black threads; dust jacket, cover and one spread screenprinted in blue + black; otherwise digitally printed in CMYK using Konica Minolta C3080; Arena® White Smooth 400gsm card (120 x 170 mm) printed double-sided in CMYK as insert