We begin with a short History of the Book, how it evolved from clay tablets, through papyrus to paper, how the codex came about and at this point we look at folding paper into "signatures", learning about the "grain" of paper and board, sewing onto tapes, constructing a "case binding", and finally learning how to design a book cover, using a variety of papers, cloth and leathers.
For this first project we will be using high-quality Fabriano paper (plain) to make a journal or diary.
The second project will involve imaginative input as each student will be given the inside text block of a book, already bound, and will have to choose endpapers and design a cover specifically for the literary content. Each one will be different, so the student is challenged to come up with something personal. At completion of the book, a particular box, or slipcase design will be studied, computed and put together to house it.
We end with an Essay, to be completed in the students' own time, on the Future of the Book. Some research material will be available for this project, but the student is encouraged to track down his/her own information and to give a very personal view on the theme.