A is van Os 도서 by Autobahn is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award 은상 in 인쇄 및 출판 미디어 디자인 Competition Category.

은인쇄· 2021

A is van Os 도서

by Autobahn

Client: Autobahn

A' Design Award 은상 Winner in 인쇄 Category

32,878

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #116728

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About A is van Os 도서

『A is van Os』는 라틴 알파벳의 역사를 다룬 책이다. 이 책은 역사상 네 시기에 걸친 각 글자의 발전 과정을 보여준다. 변화의 과정은 명료한 선과 밝은 색채로 그려져 각 글자의 변형을 쉽게 따라갈 수 있다. 모든 원형 글자꼴은 돌에 직접 손으로 새긴 뒤 촬영한 것으로, 바위에 새겨진 최초의 글자들을 참조한 것이다. 양장 표지에는 자갈 코팅으로 마감한 돌 이미지가 적용되어 표면에 촉각적인 질감을 부여한다. 책의 판형은 240×240밀리미터이다.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 은상

A is van Os 도서, 이 작품은 A' Design Award 은상 수상작으로, 최상급이며 아름답고 인상적인 디자인에 수여되는 비범하게 권위 있는 인정입니다. 은상 수상작은 대단히 뛰어나고 매우 창의적인 작품으로, 디자이너의 탁월한 전문 지식, 재능, 통찰력을 보여 줍니다. A is van Os 도서, 이 작품은 훌륭한 대표작으로서 매우 전문적이고 깊이 있게 혁신적일 것으로 기대됩니다. 이 은상 수상 디자인은 예술, 과학, 디자인, 기술의 경계를 넓히는 데 이바지하는 주목할 만하고 찬사를 받는 발명품입니다. A is van Os 도서, 이 작품은 모두가 부러워하는 창작물로서 욕망을 일깨우고 긍정적인 감정을 불러오며 경탄과 경이로움을 불러일으킵니다.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: A is van Os shows the development of each letter in four time periods in history. The changes are visualised in bright colours so they are easy to follow. Since the first letters were cut in stone, Autobahn hand carved all original letterforms in stone as a visual reference. The stone on the cover of the book is finished with a gravel coating so it becomes tactile. Besides the book Autobahn designed 3 typefaces which are free for download and can be used to send secret messages to friends in earlier forms of the alphabet.
Dimensions & Packaging: Width 240 mm x Depth 240 mm Height 10 mm
Tags: Autobahn, Typography, Design, Graphic, Alphabet, Writing, Dutch, History, Book, Children
Production Technology: Print: PMS 805, Reflex Blue
Paper: Arctic Volume 115gr
Hard cover: Cardboard wrapped in Wibalin Soft 300gr
Varnish: Spot-UV gravel coating on cover
Stones: Hand-cut and photographed
Design Challenge: To show this transition of the alphabet, Autobahn visualised the transformation for each letter with clear lines and color differences. Through this method, readers can easily follow the transformations, see how the letter developed and still see where it originated from. This aspect makes the book unique in its sort.
Research: Our alphabet has changed considerably over time. In short, it began 4,000 years ago with images carved into rock in the Sinai desert. This script (called Proto-Sinaitic) was adopted and modified by the neighboring Phoenicians (around 1500 BC). The Phoenicians were seafaring folk and granted the alphabet to the Greeks (around 800 BC); which made trading far easier. The Greeks slightly adapted the letter forms before handing them on to the Romans, who completed the alphabet. And it's this alphabet that we, in the Western world, still use today.
Inspiration: The initiative originated from the work ethos of Autobahn: text is image. Designer Rob Stolte was fascinated by the way his son was learning to write and would get him to copy the alphabet. A four year old's spatial insight is far from developed. They tend to write in different sizes, mirrored and upside down. It was during this process that Stolte recognised a number of alphabetical primordial forms. From there, he decided to design a series of objects explaining the history of our alphabet.
Project Duration: The project started in 2016 and was published in 2018 in Dutch. It was exhibited at the 65th Type Directors Club New York in 12 countries, received a Golden European Design Award and was nominated for a D&AD award and a Dutch Creativity award. The book is translated into French in 2020 and in English in 2021 (Q4).
Operation Flow: Text and image are insightful, worth knowing and in an appealing, hyper-hip style for kids; bright blue and almost fluorescent orange-red.
Design, drawings and text are coherent and consistent, this entire book exudes the basic principle of the often awarded Autobahn: text is image. A wonderful book for all children and others who love letters, history and design.
Team Members: Concept, design text and illustrations: Autobahn
Text: Bette Westera
Research and advice: Ben Haring
Advice and production: Drukkerij Wilco
Redaction, publishing and distribution: Uitgeverij Gottmer
Animation: Jochem Koopman
Documentary: Niels Mud
Product photography: Justina Nekrašaitė / De Monsterkamer