This book is called Beauty and the Unconventional since Marian Bantjes’s work is very unconventional in the world of graphic design. It also aligns with Bruno Munari’s views on how art’s beauty is only perceived as beautiful because one likes it, not because it is inherently beautiful.
SPECIFICATIONS
52 pages
6" × 9"
This spread is based on one of Bruno Munari’s art pieces. He has a series called Negativo, Positivo, which is very geometric and uses many brightly colored rectangles.
TEXT
Throughout the book, I brought the text to life by emphasizing key words in red. The drop caps are also red, while the opening words of each new section appear in small caps to guide the reader into the passage. In addition, the lines I highlighted during my reading of the texts are presented in bold.
IMAGES
All images and artworks were Image Traced in Adobe Illustrator to create a painterly and handmade appearance.
TYPOGRAPHY
The handwritten typography, mainly used in Bantjes’s section, reflects the personal, lived-in quality of her work, especially her handwritten Valentine’s Day letters. It also contrasts with Munari’s structured, bold type. Together, these texts explore the intersection of art and design, celebrating creativity, individuality, and craftsmanship.
PATTERN
The pattern on the covers was made from a dingbat typeface, where the characters spell out the book’s title, “Beauty in the Unconventional.” The secret message was repeated to create the pattern across the covers.
This project is not affiliated with Bruno Munari or Marian Bantjes.
