»Always judge a book by its cover« – the design of the book cover.
For centuries, we have been recording our knowledge on printed paper.
Even in the era of the Internet and the e-book, the printed book is far from redundant – on the contrary. In the series »The Aesthetics of the Book«, experts turn their attention to the unique qualities of the medium. The object of the »book« is discussed in essays, portraits and commentaries – not only its appearance, feel and design, effects and function, but also the traditions of typography and book design. This long overdue discourse on book form and the book as form focuses on its sensual and practical advantages, providing insights into working with the medium of the book.
The editor of the series, Klaus Detjen, has assembled leading typographers – such as Hans Andree, Wigger Bierma, Günter Karl Bose, Gerd Fleischmann, Friedrich Forssman, Jost Hochuli and Walter Pamminger – who design their own texts and covers. However, authors from other disciplines also contribute to this series, people concerned with the qualities of the book from an aesthetic, cultural and perceptual psychological point of view – as a cultural asset.
The authors
The authors include outstanding typographers such as Gerd Fleischmann and Friedrich Forssman, who design their own texts and covers, but also authors from other disciplines concerned with the qualities of the book from an aesthetic, cultural and perceptual psychological point of view, as a cultural asset.
The editor of the series
Klaus Detjen, born in 1943 in Breslau, typographer and book designer, lives near Hamburg. Until 2009 he was a professor of typography and design at the Muthesius University of Fine Arts and Design in Kiel. He has received awards and prizes for book design and typography, including the Antiquaria Prize in 2014 for the design of the »Typographische Bibliothek (Typographical Library)«.
