Dan Ayris Midweight Graphic Designer

ABOUT

‘The Next Pandemic’ is a response to the lack of visually exciting scientific, educational books, targeted towards young adults, as a result of the decline in medical student applicants in the past years. Written from the perspective of the World Health Organization, it reflects on the epidemics and outbreaks of the past century, investigating how they were controlled and the individual lessons learnt, that could be fundamental in ensuring that the next global outbreak does not reach a catastrophic level.

Science educators unanimously agree that textbooks play an important role in the teaching and learning process. For this reason, numerous studies have been conducted in science textbook analysis in the past several decades. In terms of the design and visual aesthetic of a science book, very few changes have been made to the way visual information is communicated. Scientific books most often contain large volumes of text and data, leaving little room for a more creative and engaging delivery. Studies show that communication with a consistent visual identity and visual components help readers, especially students, better engage with materials, increase retention by 29-42%, hone fundamental abilities that enable them to see and conceptualise visuals clearly and develop higher-order thinking skills. ‘The Next Pandemic’ applies contemporary design aesthetics to the world of developing communication, technology and medicine, as a creative solution to the lack of visually engaging scientific books.

‘The Next Pandemic’ takes its themes and manifests them visually and materially. The use of metallic paper is to provide texture and represent the technological aspects of the book. Green as a colour, is often associated with life, a flourescent green can create a sense of decay and infection. These contrasting colours and materials create more of an experience for the reader.

The written content is clearly communicated, and employs space and justification to ensure legibility, and allows room for notes and annotations. The typeface choices are unique to the book and contain elements that compliment the themes. Neue Machina (the typeface used for headings and body copy) is a powerful and meticulously crafted typeface, boasting monospace/geometric type features, as well as apparent and deep ink traps in its heavier weights. It is inspired by the aesthetics of robotics and machines — a font suited for the future of technology. Neue Machina represents the themes of technology, communication and the progression of medicine present in the book. It was designed to be versatile, to blend in designs in its lighter weights, and therefore, an appropriate typeface to pair with the calligraphic and typographic form of the caption typeface; Ogg. Inspired by the hand lettering of the 20th-century book designer and calligrapher, Oscar Ogg, the unique form achieved through the use of hand-carved pen nibs, brushes and white-out, represents the organic and more human component to the book. ‘The Next Pandemic’ educates its audience on the information known about the epidemics and outbreaks of the past century. Ogg plays homage to the period the book explores and represents visual typographic elements associated with 20th-century book design.

AWARDS

I-D & Artsthread Global Design Graduate Show - Shortlisted & Commended

MADEIT CREDITS

Project featured: on 22nd October 2020

The Next Pandemic

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