SAN MICHELI
BOOK DESIGN
During the pandemic, my uncle Lino transcribed his childhood memories of rural northern Italy during the economic boom, creating a vivid portrait of its geography, language, and traditions. These materials resonated on both a personal and professional level, becoming the foundation for a project that translated his recollections into a tangible and shareable book.
The aim was to explore the “book as object” by embedding the narrative within its physical form. Acting as both nephew and designer, I navigated the relationship between written language (my uncle’s voice) and visual language (my voice) to craft a design that weaves together the themes of space, time, and memory, offering readers a multi-layered experience.
COMMISSIONED BY: Lino Cappellato
MENTORSHIP: Eiseman Leander (HGK FHNW Basel)
LINK: full book video documentation ↗
DELIVERABLES:
Book-ObjectPublic Presentation
FORMAT: 105 × 190 mm
BINDING: Otabinding (open binding) with textile cover
PAPER: Refutura Recycled, Kaskad Salmon
TYPEFACE: Sole Serif Variable
Progettato da Luciano Perondi
Time
Time is reflected in the book’s navigation system, where dates replace traditional page numbers. The story begins on October 29, 1948, the author’s birth date, creating a chronological framework that immerses the reader in the flow of time.
Memories
Key memories are anchored by select foreign words, visually emphasized by white space that mimics the archival process. These words serve as pivotal points in the narrative, preserving their significance and inviting reflection.
Space
The concept of space guides both the book’s structure and its narrative. Each chapter corresponds to a new home or city, with the index designed around geographical locations rather than a linear sequence, encouraging a spatial and exploratory reading experience.
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