RADICAL SKUBIC JEWELRY

This jewelry art book’s deconstructed design is interesting, but has a negative effect on its presentation of images and heavy text.

The front cover - situated on the back of the book

The most notable design feature of Radical Skubic Jewelry is its binding. The book’s case consists only of a front and back cover of thick, uncoated board; its spine is bare, with only a coating of glue or some other sealant to protect the folded edges of the signatures and the thread that holds them together. The front and back covers have been swapped around so that the title cover is on the back of the book. The effect is a deconstructed aesthetic, rugged and almost industrial in appearance with the muted greys of the case and signature edges, and the solid black of the title text. It isn’t traditionally beautiful, as one might expect a jewelry book to be, and the uncoated cover stock will easily scuff – but that’s the point.

The text on the right spread is clearly visible on the preceding spread

The paper stock used for the book adds to the deconstructed aesthetic: it is greyish off-white, and lightweight. This does not work well with the heavy, black headings used throughout the book, as such text is clearly visible even from a whole page away.

One of the two-page spread images from the book. Note the
low resolution of the image at this size, and the dulling effect
of the paper on the photograph

Similarly, the paper stock saps colour from the images. As the images are of poor resolution to begin with, the paper only serves to make them look of lower quality.

Note the poor quality of the photograph, and the way the sewn
binding between the two signatures has loosened

This spread (please excuse the gruesome image) shows how the binding is becoming looser over time. In some sections near the end of the book, the thread has come loose, endangering the entire book. The paper stock is becoming slightly worn in some places around the sewn binding. As a result, the book may soon be more deconstructed than the designer intended.

An example of pages of text in the book

 The body text here is set along the bottom half of each page, in a single column. In combination with small, dark text and narrow margins, this makes the spread seem bottom-heavy. This is a contrast with the traditional arrangement of text on a page, but one that makes reading more difficult. There is insufficient space for a reader to hold the book without obscuring the text, and the long measure and small text size makes reading each line an effort.

Overall, Radical Skubic Jewelry's design, while effective in creating a distinctive look, has undermined the book as a practical object.

Samples collected: 29 June 2012