Weekly Writers: The Art Of Book Design

Art versus Craft

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I’m interested in books: both the knowledge and stories in them, and their existence as physical artifacts. If you are reading this, then you might well love books, too.

A lot of work goes into making a printed book, and there are many considerations. And yet, when it is done well, the average reader won’t notice all these decisions, such as carefully selected spacing, alterations to deal with widows and orphans, and non-breaking spaces to prevent connected elements from becoming separated. These adjustments are all aimed at the goal of best fitting text onto an unchanging physical page in a visually appealing way without drawing attention to any difficulties, just as someone enjoying a story shouldn’t notice all the elements of craft that went into writing it.

Book design is about the interior layout, the exterior packaging (the book cover), and the relation between them. Book design, like writing, has elements of both craft and art. Without the experience and knowledge (craft) you would make errors due to lack of understanding. Without talent (art) you will create things that are pedestrian, not exciting or original. You need both. Then you have professional end results, but created with an eye that is individual to you. Because writing, and book design, both require choices.