603: Joe Gilmore Chat & Blog Reflection

Questions to ask Joe Gilmore at 11:30

1. When did you first start working with books and how did the opportunity arise?

2. How would you advise someone who wants to work within book design to get started in the industry?

3. Of the works you've designed (not just book-specific) which project has been the most fulfilling and why? 

4. What advice would you give to a graduate entering the design world today? 

5. How are your works published? Want to learn more about this process.

6. Do you approach studio projects and client work differently? If so why?

7. With studio projects do you design with an audience in mind or are you the audience? 

Call Notes:

• How did the opportunity to work with books arise or when did you realise this was something you were interested in doing? 
  Started off doing website design and then moved to more print work for friends, it was a slow process didn't design a book for a few years of professional career. Start doing print for digital arts festival, then a few record covers, a lot of boring stuff in between.
  But got myself into cultural work, not sure what the first book was but the first big book was an artbook for Tauba Auerbach, through a friend. Ran a blog and she loved it and decided to ask Joe to do it based off of this blog. 
  It's who you know and meeting people and doing work, Catalog started blog, began publishing little zines, started projects where they asked designers to be involved and then they became well known. 
  
  
• You don't need much to make a book, he's sold them via the internet, made 100 copies and sold them through Instagram. You don't need anything, you can produce it yourself now. 
  There's a visual culture of people who are interested in experimental stuff, made books that are overlaid imagery with no real explanation, you make 50 of them and they all sell, people just like them to look at. 
  Books are democratic now in the way that anyone can do it. 
  
  
• Do you approach client work and studio projects similarly or differently?
  Probably similar, the experimental stuff is based on an idea but sometimes this flows over into a commercial project. Lucky to work in the cultural sector as people are open-minded to wacky ideas. There are people who want something experimental, and if you're used o practicing like that then it means you're not afraid to do something that's challenging and experimental. 
  
  
• Stand out project that was fulfilling for you as a creative?
  The stuff your working on currently is the most exciting because when you look back to previous years you realise you could've done better. 
  Recently working on CD cover/casing, did it for free and it took ages. You get better over time and get more confident with design, that's why its great to accept opportunities for things you don't normally do. 
  
  
• Is the materiality of a publication something you like to focus on?
  A bit, wasn't taught it when studying graphic design, think it's changed now. But some books have been stapled but when you use good paper they're a nice experience.
  - Think this is interesting, being able to play with the boundaries of bookmaking and see the different ways we interact with publications as a result. It isn't always black and white. 
  Paper is important because even on a small budget there's an opportunity to use interesting paper or a combination of paper to make it look and feel more sophisticated. 
  Tent to use 2 or 3 different papers as a way to alter the experience, essays on uncoated for a more tactile experience. Shows it's been considered. 
  
  
• 'The Most Beautiful Swiss Books' is a competition in Switzerland, books that are designed, printed or bound in Switzerland you and submit your book. Every year they publish a catalogue which shows all the books, is a great reference.
  - These look great as something to keep for learning more about books as they have all the content about books at the back of the book, paper, weights, cover material, how it was bound, where it was printed, what the printing process was etc. 
  Artbooks are great to have as they are objects you can show clients, developing a library of content to look at for inspiration, using them as research is great. You can't design artbooks without being aware of what's going on. 
  
  
• Could you elaborate on the 7.45 book challenge and how you felt it challenged you in anyway? 
  Yeah it did, the reason he did it was to force himself to make books, didn't want to fail it, already had 4 or 5 ideas and then would make a list on notes where he'd jot down ideas in a list so pulled from these to make the books. Was a really rewarding experience, would want to do it again, made you make things. Sold some of the books, you can make money selling books, there's nothing stopping someone from setting up a publishing house. You can just set one up, just do it, nothing's stopping you. Then you learn more so you can get ISBN codes, more budget etc. 
  
  
• Advice for someone entering publishing as a graduate?
  It is really hard to get into big book design world, trying to get into the world of designing lovely artbooks is hard, you've got to meet people and have a bit of luck that the people you know, know someone else. 
  Need to be involved in the industry you want to make books about, if artbooks need to be involved with art, going to exhibitions etc. 
  Need to get your name out there, initially was involved in Leeds getting little jobs here and there and for years you just survive doing all sorts of stuff. Doing things for free can be great because stuff can snowball when you've been given free rein over the project. You can be strategic if you think something is going to be a portfolio piece, do it for cheap or for nothing and make sure your name is on it. 
  - Really interesting to think about this stuff that way as a process of developing a network and portfolio. 

Catalogue:

Blog

Website

Joe Gilmore: Void () Blog

These blogs are a really interesting idea, it feels like you're looking at someone else's Instagram feed. 

I have had a conversation recently with my housemate about how we find it more interesting to look at someone else's Instagram account feed than our own at times because we get to see new idea and designs. But what we also really like about it is the sense of intimacy you get, you see design from someone else's perspective. 

- I'd really like to start my own blog that showcases a collection of imagery that I find visually pleasing or showcase projects I like. I think it will be a good way to think more deeply about content than Instagram and be something I can refer back to and develop as I develop my practice.