A is van Os Libër by Autobahn is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 Çmimi i Argjendtë A' Design Award in Dizajni i Medias së Shtypur dhe të Publikuar Competition Category.

ArgjendiShtyp· 2021

A is van Os Libër

by Autobahn

Client: Autobahn

Çmimi i Argjendtë A' Design Award Winner in Shtyp Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About A is van Os Libër

A is van Os është një libër mbi historinë e alfabetit latin. Libri tregon zhvillimin e secilës shkronjë përgjatë katër periudhave në histori. Ndryshimet janë vizatuar me linja të qarta dhe ngjyra të ndezura, kështu që çdo transformim është i lehtë për t'u ndjekur. Të gjitha format origjinale të shkronjave u gdhendën me dorë në gur dhe u fotografuan, si referencë ndaj shkronjave të para të prera në shkëmb. Kapaku i fortë mbart një imazh guri të përfunduar me një shtresë zhavorri, e cila e bën sipërfaqen prekëse. Libri ka përmasa 240 me 240 milimetra.

The Recognition

About the Çmimi i Argjendtë A' Design Award

A is van Os Libër është fitues i Çmimit të Argjendtë A' Design Award, një njohje jashtëzakonisht prestigjioze që u akordohet dizajneve të nivelit më të lartë, mahnitëse dhe mbresëlënëse. Fituesit e Argjendtë janë vepra tejet brilante dhe jashtëzakonisht krijuese që ilustrojnë ekspertizën, talentin dhe mprehtësinë e shquar të dizajnerëve të tyre. A is van Os Libër pritet të jetë një vepër e mrekullueshme, vitrinë e vërtetë e mjeshtërisë, jashtëzakonisht profesionale dhe thellësisht inovative. Ky dizajn fitues i Çmimit të Argjendtë A' Design Award është një shpikje shumë e shquar dhe e admiruar që sjell dobi dhe zgjeron kufijtë e artit, shkencës, dizajnit dhe teknologjisë. A is van Os Libër është një krijim shumë i dëshiruar që ngjall dëshira, sjell ndjenja pozitive dhe zgjon habi e mahnitje.

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