Revolutionizing Book Design: Li-Ting Wang's "Too Loud A Solitude"

Exploring the Intersection of Literature and Design through Innovative Formats

Li-Ting Wang's inspiration for "Too Loud A Solitude" stemmed from the observation that books with more visual elements tend to attract more attention than those with plain text. This led to the exploration of the book as a three-dimensional object, incorporating various elements such as the cover, pages, spine, fore-edge, and binding into the design process. The result is a unique book design that offers a more engaging and immersive reading experience.

The design of "Too Loud A Solitude" is based on a short novel by Czech novelist Bohumil Hrabal. The story is told using different formats, with the pages' formats changing to follow the content. For instance, to convey the main character's feelings of heaviness and solitude, cement was used for the book's exterior. A range of paper types was used to mimic wastepaper, reflecting the story's setting in a wastepaper factory. Furthermore, rectangular holes were die-cut on black papers to represent different spaces, and hallucinations were depicted by printing text on tracing paper.

The realization of this design involved various techniques, including die-cutting and RISO printing. The book's package consists of a cement box and an acrylic cover, while the book itself measures 20 x 14 cm. The design invites readers to interact with the pages, feel the differences in material, and see the change in shape, enhancing the overall reading experience.

The project, which started and finished in 2014 in London, faced several challenges. These included technical restrictions and the need to balance the use of unusual formats with the need for readability. Despite these challenges, the project was successful, demonstrating that there are still many possibilities to explore in the ways of reading a novel.

"Too Loud A Solitude" was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in 2015, a prestigious accolade given to well-designed, practical, and innovative creations that meet professional and industrial requirements. This recognition underscores the design's unique approach to book design and its potential to revolutionize the way we read and interact with books.