OUGD404: What is a Book? - Aesthetic Influences

Instructional Booklets

As the book was intended to be informative, I wanted to look at the aesthetic of instructional book design, as I feel my book could have an almost instructional feel to it. 

I did not want to use some elements of instructional booklets, as I found them to be boring.

The elements of instructional manuals I intend to use:

Linear Pattern: I like the use of pattern in instructional manuals, as you can see on the tractor manual and the 'final cartridge' manual. 

Gradient: One reoccurring element of manuals seems to be a gradient. I intend to use this somehow within my design. 


One of my pages, with both a linear pattern and gradient:

Royal Mail Stamp:

For some reason, I felt inspired by the ink patterned stamp Royal Mail post on their envelopes:

This pattern inspired me to a similar patterned background for one of my spreads:

Beat Magazine:

I like the simple, easy to read type used, especially the serif titles. 

Use in my book - numbers:

Colour: I like the  subtle use of colour in type, shown in  just the title in blue. I intend to use a similar subtle use of colour in my publication. 

Archizines.com

In general, I used this website to identify different layout in publications:

The Unlimited Edition - Local Stratford Newspaper

I really liked the way boxes with a basic drop shadow have been used to create titles within this magazine.