Created in 2020 during the pandemic. 8" x 8" opened.
During the first months of the Covid-19 pandemic, the feelings of uncertainty, grief for the deceased, and the gloomy outlook on existence, coupled with continuous stay-at-home orders, led me to contemplate the global scale of the problem and the diverse range of opinions and perceptions people held about it. Inspired by this, I embarked on a social awareness project: interviewing individuals from various countries and backgrounds. The outcome of this endeavor is two books and a website that capture their thoughts and emotions regarding the pandemic.
I named this project "Now" because the pandemic appeared to be a shared Groundhog Day moment globally, where the fleeting "Now" became a seemingly unalterable reality.
The books are designed to resemble the Earth and the shreddings of the paper under the paper globe symbolize those who died in the first months of pandemic.
This project aimed to capture the essence of the stay-at-home experience through meticulous selection of tone, paper, and techniques. For the website, I combined Bootstrap's principles of responsive web design with Parallax effects, creating an almost 3D-like movement in backgrounds typical of Parallax. This integration ensured the website's usability across various devices, from desktop computers to mobile phones and even watches. Additionally, in creating the books, I had to rely on traditional stay-at-home tools instead of my usual laser cutter for precisely cutting pages.
The goal was to create an experience that reflects the variety of observations and opinions related to the pandemic. The project also explores different creative processes such as sketching, computer layouts, and experimenting with different materials, techniques, and coding for the books and the website.
Uncertainty, death, life and feelings of chaos and change that the sudden pandemic evoked were at the root of working on this project. For this social project I asked people around the world to comment on the current situation. Working on these books and a website at home gave me a sense of a purpose and meditative contemplation.
This page from the process book illustrates the initial stages of working on this project. I usually start with sketching my artist books by hand, thinking of many possible forms and effects. Sketching also helps me to find out what binding could work well with this or that form of the book. Additionally, during this exploratory phase, I experiment with various paper weights and textures to determine which best complements the visual and tactile experience I aim to achieve. Click here to preview the process book for this project.
Another page from the process book shows the sketches that allowed me to settle on the final concept and form for my books. From these initial sketches, I then transition to experimenting with different materials, textures, and colors to bring my concepts to life. Parallel to that, I proceed to incorporate digital tools to refine the design and ensure that it will be printed and bound correctly. Click here to preview the process book.
You can see one of the ideas of the book—the layout with the figures of people translated into the digital realm of InDesign. This layout could be implemented on the laser cutter or be cut out by hand, but later on, aiming to create a less literal form for my books, I opted to omit the figures of people, which were representing the humankind affected by the virus, as well as serving as spikes of the molecular structure of the Covid virus. This decision allowed for a more abstract and universally interpretable representation of the pandemic's impact, making the book's story richer. Click here to preview the process book.
Coming up and using the unexpected at-home-available tools, such as a lid of a casserole instead of a laser-cutter for tearing the round pages of the books was appealing to me as a part of the huge change the whole world was undergoing. Click here to preview the process book for this project!
This meditative website uses responsive coding and parallax scrolling to create an immersive experience. As visitors explore its peaceful landscapes, soothing imagery, and often contrasting memories and opinions from different people, they are drawn into a world beyond typical web design.
The soft notes of Erik Satie's music invite users to pause and reflect. Responsive web design ensures that the site looks great on any device, adapting its layout to fit different screen sizes. The parallax technique highlights key elements, guiding users' attention and enhancing the storytelling experience, transforming traditional design into a captivating digital space.
View it online.
