It was in 1943 that Jan Tschichold first suggested the idea of an award to be conferred upon the most beautiful Swiss books that were being published annually. Mysteriously however, only a few years later, there is a gap in the series; in 1946, 1947 and 1948 no books were entered or awarded. This gap and its context served as an interesting starting point for an exhibition series which discussed book making and book design in Switzerland, particularly from that time, but also in contemporary practice. Conceived by Roland Früh, Corina Neuenschwander and Jenny Eneqvist, the exhibition also features furniture by swedish designer Fredrik Paulsen.

 

With exhibitions and events in Zurich, Locarno and Geneva, and a substantial amount of documentation recorded, exhibition organisers wemakeit decided the time was right to release a publication based on their findings. In fourteen short statements, experts including Jost Hochuli, Christoph Schifferli, François Rappo, Nicole Udry, Julia and Klaus Born and many more, explain their selections for beautiful books. Additional authors such as Severin Rüegg, Philipp Messner, Noah Stolz and Patrick Gosatti write more specifically on a number of topics, starting with the different aspects of book production and design that were discussed during the events.

 

The aim of the book is to take the discourse a step further and offer a contemporary commentary on what is crucial for the making and designing of books, back then, and today.

 

Edited by Corina Neuenschwander and Roland Früh, the book will be published in fall 2012 by Niggli Verlag, Sulgen.

 

 

Source - wemakeit

Jack Smylie