A is van Os Primary Function: Qillqana Maytu by Autobahn

A is van Os Primary Function: Qillqana Maytu by Autobahn is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award Qullqi Premiu in Qillqasqa Kamay Competition Category.

QullqiQillqasqa· 2021

A is van Os Primary Function: Qillqana Maytu

by Autobahn

Client: Autobahn

A' Design Award Qullqi Premiu Winner in Qillqasqa 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 Primary Function: Qillqana Maytu

Book Text: A is van Os nisqaqa huk maytum, Latin qillqakunap ñawpa kawsayninmanta willakuq. Kay maytuqa sapa qillqap wiñayninta tawa mit'a kawsaykunapi rikuchin. Chay tikraykunaqa sut'i siqikunawan hinaspa k'anchaq llimphikunawan siqisqam kachkan, chaymi sapa tikrakuy hunt'anaman qatinapaq facilllam. Llapan ñawpa qillqa kaqkunaqa makiwanmi rumipi llaqllasqa hinaspa fotograpiasqa karqan, ñawpaq qaqapi kuchusqa qillqakunata yuyarichiq hina. Chukchuq qara pankaqa huk rumip rikch'ayninta apachkan, ch'iqi rumi qatawan tukusqa, chaymi hawanta llamiykunapaq allin. Kay maytuqa 240 240 milímetrom kachkan.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Qullqi Premiu

A is van Os Primary Function: Qillqana Maytu A' Design Award Qullqi Premiu mishak kan, ancha jatun yupaychay, kayta hanak, sumak shinallatak mancharina diseñukunaman kun. Qullqi mishak kashkakunaka ancha achikyaska shinallatak ancha mushuk ruraykunami, paykunata rurakkunapak yachayta, yuyayta shinallatak ushayta rikuchinku. A is van Os Primary Function: Qillqana Maytu ruray yachak, ñawpak shinallatak mushuk yuyayta charik sumak rurashka kanata munanku. Kay Qullqi Premiu japishka diseñuka ancha riksishka shinallatak yupaychashka yuyay kan, arti, siensia, diseñu shinallatak tekinolojía ñawpak ñankunata kichuk. A is van Os Primary Function: Qillqana Maytu achka runakunapak munashka rurashka kan, munayta kallarichin, alli yuyaykunata kun shinallatak mancharichin.

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