Exercise 1: What is your role?

Working with the outlined publishing models, identify the various roles you (and potentially others) will be undertaking for assignment five. For example, you’re likely to be writing your own content, designing your book, editing and reviewing it. You may also be involved in the production, printing and distribution process. Consider each aspect of the book assignment and briefly list what roles you think you’ll be doing, and what these roles entail. Also make notes of the roles of others who might be involved in your assignment and what their contribution is.

The OCA course booklet contains the following two models:

Model 1

Writer – Publisher – Editor – Designer – Production – Printer – Distribution – Retail

Model 2

Artist/Designer/Author – Publisher – Editor – Production – Printer – Distribution – Retail

As the creator of the book in Assignment 5 it’s clear that model 2 is the relevant model for me.

I thought it would be useful to revisit Book Design by Andrew Haslam to expand upon these roles.

Artist/Designer/Author

As designer I will be shaping the physical nature of the book. I’ll be dealing with how the book communicates and how the visual elements are positioned. This will also include making decisions on the format of the book, the binding, type styles, paper choices etc. Often the designer will work closely with artists but as I will be taking on this role as well, I won’t need to. In the simplest terms, the author is the writer, this is something I may or may not need to do for my assignment. The artist could mean an illustrator, photographer or both. This is another role I will probably take upon myself, although I could ask somebody to help with illustrating. As my strength lies in photography it is more likely that I will need to create photographs for the assignment or perhaps edit old photographs, I will however, be open to illustrating if needed.

Publisher

A publisher will invest in the production of a book. This includes paying for the writing, production, printing, binding and distribution of the book. For such a small project it clearly makes sense for me to be the publisher. I won’t have to pay anybody else to write or produce the book and distribution won’t be applicable. However, there is a possibility that I will have to pay for printing or binding if I choose to do that professionally outside of my home.

Editor

As editor I will need to view my work objectively and provide criticism so that the aspects that don’t work can be ironed out. In Book Design this seems to refer to the editor working with author regarding the text but I suppose this can be applied to the book overall. There is also the possibility of asking other to critique and become editors as well.

Production

This is the meat of the project in my opinion. This relates to the role of artist and designer that I have outlined previously and by the end of this stage the book will be finished and ready for printing.

Printer

This is the stage of the process which I am most likely to source out to somebody else. I have the option of printing at home but for a more professional outcome I should use professional printers. Once printing has been finished there is also the role of print finishing which might include processes such as embossing, die-cutting, folding etc. This could also include binding. The print finishing would also be undertaken by somebody else rather than me.

Distribution

This is the process between printing and retailing which involves getting the books from warehouses to shops. Something I don’t need to worry about for this assignment.

Retail

Another stage that isn’t applicable to this assignment. It is the final step where the books are sold in shops.

References

Haslam, A., 2006. Book design. 1st ed. London: Laurence King Publishing Ltd.