Yearbook - Pattern Book Research

Straight after our meeting earlier today Ian, Charlotte and I went up to the library look at how existing textile and pattern books are laid out, split up, arranged and how a range of content is displayed.

Illustration Play:

We all agreed that this is a good example of plenty of white (black) space. Also a good example of tidy text placement. Although it is a good example of space this amount may be hard to utilise due to the reduced scale of our yearbook:

This spread is of note because the image on the left is of the process and the right a selection of resulting work. Although we are no longer having student profiles, this approach may be a good way of composing a selection of spreads in the book.

Good examples of using space, grid and full bleed images (mixing image shots with process):

Extremely small point size for the descriptors and captions. Its a very distinctive typeface that adds to the identity of the book. 

Patterns:

This spread is a good example of displaying images in a grid (left) and full bleed repeat (right). The use of a transparent text box is also an interesting piece of page furniture - helping the info blend with the pattern.    

I like that in tis book, the tipped in intro and section head pages were not just a solid colour but a detailed pattern filled by a subtle linear gradient that moves from left to right. A nice touch that we could employ in our own publication.

The pattern is repeated inside the page numbers within the book. A nice touch:

Combination of small images with large images full bleed off the outer edges:

White space with large image spreading across the gutter + smaller 'satellite' images conforming to the grid.

A good example of the breakdown of the sections of the book - similar to the 'thematic investigations' the Surface Pattern tutors have been talking about - in fact conversational patterns was on the themes list:

Short explanations of the thematic investigations may be good to include in our book. The gradient of the background pattern below is also of note :) 

Textiles Now:

A good variety of spreads in this book. The full product shot on the left with a macro image for detail is a nice combination.

Busy collection of images using the grid and spanning the gutter:

 Again, macro with product shot - like the white space on the right page.

Full bleed workshop / process shot +  physical application on products:

Categorised sections displayer on every non full bleed recto page.

Chapter Explanations:

The Pattern Sourcebook:

We all liked this spread - large repeat pattern on the left with a very deliberate small gridded amount of type on the adjacent page.

Similarly organised and tidy type throughout the book - very nice. I particularly like the smaller caption type in the left column - a nice page detail.

The sections of the book are broken down into a uniform layout - type at the top of the page with the rest of the page full bleed with flat pattern digital image files + physical pieces (far right):

Interesting to see the different patterns sitting next to each other:

The book is organised into colour sections which helps facilitate the easy placement of different patterns next to one another.

This page shows very well the mixture of digital files with a physical 'in situ' shots, aided by colour organisation. 

Neat, small point size block of type on each page explaining the work. I think the type in our own book should take influence from this so as not to dominate the patterns.

The Pattern Sourcebook CD Sample:

The Pattern Sourcebook comes with a CD of 100 high-res patterns, which could come in handy when we are producing mock-layouts to have a selection of images and methods of photographing. Here's a selection from the CD by way of example: