This book called The Tall Grass in the Backyard was made in collaboration with the third year creative writing department. Each student created their own work and this book would document the overall theme of their stories. ‘The Tall grass in the Backyard’ was a place in the backyard which was just for them, but at the same time also seems to be for someone else. The backyards connect people, but also seems alienating as we blend in our own bubble. The students did research on this theme and the role of a community in a society which both attracts and repels. I was asked to design and further conceptualize the book.
“I decided to take the length of the grass as a way to create the structure of the book. ”
Three sections, the high grass, the middle grass and the low grass in which I divided the 12 students in blocks of 4.
- In the high grass, the projects they made would be camouflaged; They are a bit more distant, hiding or protective.
- In the middle grass some parts of personality or traits were revealed, but there is room to not give too much away
- In the lower grass there is room to be open, personal and loose.
The pictures are treated like equals, containing a red/orange duotone layer to blend in the page, while the text sections are treated rougher and more inviting.
