180º North East: A Novel Journey in Design

Adventure Novel by Daniel Kutcher Wins Platinum A' Design Award

The inspiration for 180º North East came from Kutcher's own travels in the fall of 2009. The 90,000-word novel is a true account of his experiences, supplemented with photos, maps, and video to provide a comprehensive sense of the journey. Kutcher was inspired by the music albums and artists he enjoys, such as Pink Floyd, and aimed to create a similar variation in style throughout the book while maintaining coherence.

Creating 180º North East was a significant undertaking. Kutcher used Microsoft Word for the text and a mix of Adobe Creative Suite tools for image processing and design. The book is designed to be read both as a printed piece and on modern platforms, including tablets and kindles. The tablet version even includes video clips of the trip, providing additional visual context for readers.

The book's design also includes instances of expressive text, which presented a significant challenge for Kutcher. He had to experiment extensively to find ways to translate his sketches into a format ready for print. The result is a unique feature that enhances the reader's immersion in the story.

180º North East was started in March 2010 in Alkmaar, The Netherlands, and finished with a first prototype copy printed in Madrid, Spain, in December 2014. The book's dimensions are 160mm x 28mm x 231mm, it weighs 697g, and it consists of 326 pages.

The Platinum A' Design Award recognizes world-class, exceptional, and highly innovative designs that showcase unmatched professionalism and contribute to societal wellbeing. By winning this prestigious award, 180º North East has been acknowledged as a defining aesthetic of its era, advancing the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology.