Book Arts

During my semester abroad at Georgetown University, in Washington DC, I was fortunate enough to participate in Art of the Book - a book making course. Through this course, I gained a deeper appreciation of the history and craftsmanship of books and traditional book making. I visited many museums, public galleries, libraries and private collections to observe various types of content and artistic expression by book artisans around the DC area. ​​​​​​​

A few of my books were chosen to be donated to the Georgetown Special Books Collection - something I am very proud of.

Altered Book

Japanese Stab Binding

Coptic Stitch

Letterpress and Lino Cut

Lotus fold

Secret Belgian Binding

Reflection

I absolutely loved this course and have carried this passion back to Sydney. I learnt the importance of keeping traditional techniques alive. Additionally, this course taught me skills that can be transferred to my digital design work. For example, learning to work with handset type, specifically physical leading and tracking, has allowed me to better understand the fundamentals of typography.

One of the highlights of the course was the opportunity to create my own books. After learning the basics of book making, I was able to use my own imagination to craft unique books. The altered book and the Japanese stab binding books were my original creations. Both of these books were selected for donation to the Georgetown Special Books Collection and remain there today.

The tactile nature of book making is a refreshing shift from my previous experience in digital design, and it's a realm I'm eager to explore further. I would love to blend my expertise in both book making and digital design to collaborate on unique and innovative projects, such as crafting distinctive restaurant menus, marketing material, and more.