Strange and unusual

I made this book for architects in 2007, working for the estate of M.Knight Shayamalan,"Ravenwood".
As is often the case with designers, they brought a specific material that they wanted some how to incorporate into the front and back boards.
Now, there are many ways to communicate a gothic atmosphere or feel, especially around the suggestive name "Ravenwood", and as a binder I would have done it completely differently.
However, sometimes you have to give your client what they want, and work with what your given.
In trying to solve the problem of using the material(feathers glued to fabric), in a way that looks finished,you can learn some stuff along the way too.
The main problem was the thickness of the feathers, and the fact that it was impossible to use as a regular fabric, ie , turning it over the board.So I decided to recess the material.
The next problem was that simply recessing the material, would not solve the problem of the exposed edges of the fabric, which was mainly visible along the top edge, due mainly to how the feathers were mounted, like tiles.
SO, I made a framed split board, holding the mounted feathers....it took some time, the area of the frame closet to the feathers is unglued which presented its own difficulties.
I'm filing this under a new category "Strange and Unusual", along with the
books hiding a mechanism for a secret door , and  3D book Sculpture in 2008.
Im sure they won't be the last...

CFDA's Annual Vogue fund

The CFDA and Vogue magazine run an annual competition for young designers within several disciplines working in the industry.The fund is designed to mentor designers that have demonstrated exceptional talent and, "capacity for future distinction".The winners and runners-up are awarded substantial monies for the further development of their work
The candidates must submit a portfolio , or look book showcasing their collection or body of work, which is where we come in .
Since 2006 PDB has made portfolios for the following candidates, finalists , runners-up , and winners..

Sue Stemp

Unis

Bruce

Lorick

Vena Cava

Monique Pean

Gary Graham

Candela

Christian Cota

All work presented challenges, as all the designers quite naturally wanted the book to reflect their work.There was creasing, filling , using silk-screened fabrics , book box constructions with a hollowed out well for a model heart , and complicated recesses for jewelry fashioned from epoch old mammoth bone recovered and sold by inuit tribes, including a book this year , made with buckles and straps.Work ranged from basic case-bindings, to more complicated 3 piece bradel bindings, to full leather bindings.
I would also like to thank Roanne Adams and her team of designers , who worked with me to produce some good work, and hope we can do much more..
 
We've done a lot more unusual stuff since 2006, but that will be another post....