Level 6: 602: Part 2 of Rahel Zoller Interview

Thinking of some questions to ask Rahel in our next video call in response to her previous answers.
In the last call I began asking more about how to get involved with the book industry but I've realised now it's more just putting yourself out there that is the best way.

I'd like to take the opportunity in the next video call to as Rahel about her conceptual approach to publications and learn more about this.
- Potentially also talk to her about the project I'm working on (B9) and see what she says in response.

Of the works you've designed (not just book-specific) which project has been the most fulfilling and why?
When designing a book to convey a specific feeling how would you approach this challenge, as I'm working on a publication exploring this currently.
Do you find that you're still learning as you continue your practice?
When working with conceptual content do you think about the audience and how they will interpret the book or is it in response to your own feelings?

Notes from Call:

Which project was most fulfilling and why?
Started working on collaboration about paper, decided to send each other letters or "submissions". Our birth certificate is on paper and our death certificate is on paper and everything in between, there's lots of stuff on paper.
The discourse with the material, what does paper mean to myself what does it mean to other people? Could be the ora of paper like a letter of rejection or a love letter, they have their own meaning. Paper is a carrier for many different things.
So the collaborators sent documents to each other as the output, so there were many mini projects as outcomes but what Rahe;e enjoyed the most was having the discourse but also constantly producing something. Really enjoyed the continuous output.
- The use of paper as a way of experiencing the world is so interesting, makes me think about all the different materials we interact with and forget about but that have a lot of significance.
This open minded way of thinking about printed matter is something I want to develop, I want to keep speaking to people and reading to learn more about the medium and hear how other people experience print.
How to convey a feeling within print for the audience to receive even when the content is conceptual?
Often it's subtle, the stories within the production. If it's a book about sustainability and food waste then this should be incorporated into the book. Paper is made out of food waste, die the book mark ribbons with food waste so the stories are brought into the book. You might not know about them unless they're mentioned. Looking at how materiality can naturally answer the questions for you.
Always sees a concept from a personal point of view, wouldn't want to impose it on someone but if they experience the same thing that's great.
Lots of people don't have the capacity to take on a lot, people won't see the concept as they don't have the time to sit down and experience it. Noticed recently people don't have the capacity to understand the subtlety. We get easily distracted. Sometimes it helps to provide a line of explanation but nothing more.
University in Leipzig doing an online bookfair where students can submit, would be good to submit this with a partner or independently: https://www.instagram.com/itsabook_leipzig/
When starting the design process do you consider the audience initial or with yourself as the audience?
Probably make it more for herself, but end up in situations asking if someone else understands it the same way, so look at different viewpoints as to how the project is being communicated and where to not make it too abstract. It should be conceptual but still accessible. Some publications make sense straight away, other publications don't and that's okay.
Questioning what is a book? Once you know the rules how can you break them and go against the structure, that's why she started Title by Author, taking what she'd learned and showcasing it as a skeleton.
Any references for content absorbed that have found interesting throughout practice?
Really like Tauba Auerbach (also has diagonal press), Californian artist, and Irma Boom. Irma Boom is interesting as the way she speaks about books is really interesting, recommends attending a book talk if possible.
Paul Soulellis gave a talk on PMVABF discussing the shift in print in terms of representing communities and being more accessible.
- This was a really interesting point raised and led to discussion about the PMVABF event in relation to decolonial design. I feel printed matter isn't so westernised and people see the beauty in all books. Different cultures were really represented at the event and there wasn't a sense of everyone wanting to be the same. It was great to hear Rahel talk about this, it makes me more excited to venture into the realm of books more.
How do you find you learn as a practitioner?
Everytime you come into another situation you get presenting with new problems that you have to learn from. Made many mistakes over the 10 years and Rahels next publication is a catalogue on mistakes to show the idea about how we're constantly learning and that we can be accepting of our mistakes.
Thoughts on slow media as a use of books?
Why print is still important is because we haven't found out how to archive digital means. Also the footprint of archiving digital content is less sustainable than books. E.g the British library constantly go through digital migration where data is translated through mediums as it keeps getting outdated so there is so much lose through the digital medium. With books they will outlive us.
- This was such a new interesting concept I hand't considered before. The idea of dead space on the internet. Was really taken a back by this as a concept.

Reflecting:

Talking to Rahel was an amazing experience, I learnt more about her way of thinking surrounding books as well as places to go and look for content. Chatting about books with like minded people reaffirms my interest in the medium and how much more there is for me to learn, and that I want to learn about it.

I'm looking forward to being able to tailor my practice after my degree and work with books using the information I've learned during my degree.

Will be looking at the artbook fairs and competitions and applying for these as they seem like a great opportunity.

British Book Design and Production: