municipality of The Hague: “Haagse Nieuwe”

Book design of the Arts & Culture
Policy Plan 2013 - 2016

This is the municipal four year arts and culture policy. The Hague has
a diversity of high quality arts and cultural activities, for all residents.
We made images expressing this in the shape of rosettes: something
new and autonomous is being created from existing art forms. To create
a link with The Hague, we also made rosettes of well-known cultural institutions in the city.

The design had to fit within the municipal corporate identity, and some sobriety was appropriate because the plan contains numerous cuts.
Still, renewal and cooperation were the leading notes.

This book was forwarded to the cultural institutions, directors and civil servants. A PDF can also be viewed on the website of the Municipality.

Dürr-I Meknun:
“The Hidden Pearl”

Book design of the famous 15th-century
Ottoman cosmography

This is the first critical text edition of Dürr-i Meknûn (“The Hidden Pearl”), the 15th-century cosmography of the famous dervish Ahmed Bican Yazıcıoğlu. It is considered of paramount importance for the study of culture and language in the early Ottoman period. We made this book design for Dutch Turkologist Laban Kaptein.

Jan Middendorp (author of ‘Dutch Type’) described it as “Functional,
yet individualistic and eccentric… A masterful and courageous design”.

This book is included in the collections of the university libraries of Harvard, Princeton, New York, Bodleian Library (Oxford), Berlin State Library, Bibliothèque Nationale Paris, and the Royal Library in The Hague.

 

 

Graceful pages

Dürr-i Meknûn is a 15th-century work, hence the choice for type designed by Nicolas Jenson (1420-1480). We designed several new custom characters for this typeface, such as the new symbol for ß in small caps.

For the monogram on the cover, the title and chapter initials we used our own Kristal Open Caps font which is both classic and modern:

 

 

Complex typography

The typography of Dürr-i Meknûn is particularly complex. The main text is in German, but it contains numerous quotations from the (right-to-left) Ottoman source script, as well as quotations from literature in several other languages:

 

 

Ottoman script

The original Ottoman text of Dürr-i Meknûn is included entirely in this edition. This way the reader can understand and empathize with how transcription and interpretation differences could arise over the centuries in the manuscript tradition.

For this part we used Winsoft Tasmeem: the first digital font that can replicate the character of the Ottoman calligraphic script. Dürr-i Meknûn
is the first scientific publication in the world in which it is featured:

Annette Clay: Design art

Visual identity, portfolio website
and photography

Annette Clay designs miniature artworks that often double function
as jewelry. The photographs try to capture the magic in her work by concentrating on the reflections.

LAB3

Visual identity, website and promotional materials for a design and consulting agency

Lab3 is an agency which aims to find an identity that suits the user.
We translated the daring, originality and humor of Lab3 into different styles that come together on the website.

For the 5th anniversary of Lab3, we devised a playful action: free Lab3-3D glasses could be ordered to view the 3D image on the site, and people could then submit their own pictures wearing those glasses. The funniest pictures received a prize.

Academia Press

Book covers, series and magazines for scientific publishers Academia Press

Academia Press is a scientific publishing house in Ghent; a publisher who believes in community involvement, particularly in its function to provide a forum for non-conventional subjects and thus stimulate the social debate.

 

“Eyal and Myrthe are masters in thinking up creative, typographic covers, where you see at a glance what the book is about, without compromising its depth. Their design is modern but nevertheless draws from a rich cultural tradition.”

Pieter Borghart, Academia Press

“Drawing as a Never-ending Process”

A publication with DVD for visual artist
Allie van Altena

A publication about the work and working process of visual artist Allie van Altena in the form of a folding sheet. Because he chooses a form in which the process is more important than the final result, we have chosen to show his studio and working process in a poetic way. When you unfold the sheet, the material greets you in color; an invitation to view his work.

www.allievanaltena.nl

“Allie van Altena”

DVD

The DVD followed the folding sheet publication. The design simulates the turning of the work. In the film, made by Arjen Batignolles, everything comes together, the material, the process, turning over the sheets and the work in color, as a continuous process.

“Je ziet ze vliegen”

A publication on grassland birds for AOC Friesland, Animal Care department

This is a publication about grassland birds for Animal Care students.
It is aimed to bring the students closer to the subject matter: the handy size is easy to carry in the field; the sounds the birds make are written phonetically; signs of the human world are also depicted in every bird illustration by showing a house, a bike or agricultural machinery, etc. (illustrations by Anne Brakema)

Eduardo Frei Foundation

Information booklets about democracy,
in English, French and Arabic

We designed a booklet in three languages for Eduardo Frei Foundation of the Dutch political party CDA. The booklets are for use in workshops on democracy, in countries where less is known about it.

Karen van Noort

Portfolio website for visual artist
Karen van Noort

We show the momentum and technique of the work of Karen van Noort through alternating closeups. Only the most essential is being shown throughout the rest of the site, with very little verbal explanations. Inside the galleries, the series are shown as if they hang on the wall, and single pieces can be viewed close-up.

“Kunst over Bomen: bomen over kunst”

“Art about trees: trees about art”.
Book design about solitary trees in Friesland

A publication for landscape management agency Landschapsbeheer Friesland to promote preservation of the solitary trees. Inside are 35 Friesian artworks and 40 poems. The minimalism of the cover reflects
the solitary tree and the poems and artwork shift like the growth rings
of a tree. This is also symbolized by the various types of paper.

“Kunst over Bomen: bomen over kunst” is the winner of the Liuweprint 2005 award for the best designed Friesian book.

“javaanse cateringbus”

Website and promotion material for a project of Javaans Eetcafe Groningen

Javanese restaurant Javaans Eetcafe Groningen has converted an old fire truck into a mobile catering kitchen. The spicy Javanese food makes the concept complete.

The truck has a temporary stand at a variety of festivals and events. This is reflected in the design by the changing landscapes and navigation signs.

The postcards, with old proverbs related to fire, are available for free
at every catering, and seem to be very popular…

“Mythology of Creation”

Experimental website for an art project
by artist Nelleke Scharroo and art historian Michael van Hoogenhuyze

The close relationship between the stories of mythology and the creative processes of the artist was the inspiration for a 50-meters long roll of drawings. This is maintained in the design of the site, which (with almost quarter million pixels) is probably the widest website on the internet!

The artwork can be viewed in different speeds, like a film. Key points can be clicked to reveal more about the myths behind the images.

“Leergrammatica
Bÿbels-Hebreeuws”

Book design for Prof. Klaas A. D. Smelik

“Learning a language as different as Biblical Hebrew can be a challenge. This educational book was therefore written and designed in a special way that helps the student as efficiently as possible.

“In a world where the image has become increasingly important, the visual presentation of the material is an essential part of the whole. One look at a page should clarify the content and method of study. Forms or concepts jump out as soon as you see the text.

“This contemporary grammar book makes it appealing to learn to read and understand Biblical Hebrew.”

Prof. dr. Klaas A. D. Smelik, Professor Hebrew and Judaism at Ghent University, Department of Languages and Cultures of the Near East and North Africa.

Els Maasson

Visual identity, portfolio website and promotion material for visual artist
Els Maasson

Els Maasson often uses symbolism and stories from the plant and animal kingdom in her work. Her skill and technique give the images their brightness and power. The visitor takes part in her rich world directly when entering her website.

“Passie in Vorm”

Visual identity, website and promotional materials for a non-profit foundation that literally “heartens”

Passie in vorm – “passion in shape” – designs and produces artistic hearts out of simple materials, together with (and as gifts for) people in need of care and mental support.

“De Lachende Klusser”

Identiteit en website for the Laughing Handyman who performs his work “with pleasure, skill and inspiration”

The versatility of the Laughing Handyman is reflected in this design,
as well as his personal approach and humor.

“Vrÿe Gedachten”

“Free Thoughts”, a collection of poetic stories from the unique perception of the writer

Like a storyline, we drew a horizon through the book, where the characters from the stories are visible. In the heart of the book, all silhouettes join together in a spectacle.

“tekst in metrum”

Visual identity and a website for a text agency

Tekst in Metrum is a text agency with an affection for language. Through the use of typography in photography we bring the power of language to the imagination; language stimulates, excites and motivates.

Maralte Publishers

Book series, magazines
and promotional materials

For scientific publishing house Maralte we designed, inter alia, a series of books about Environmental Engineering. Themes are differentiated with a clear and recognizable vignette with different colors. The design is distinct among scientific publications and at the same time it retains the function and purpose which it serves

municipality of The Hague (DSO Research)

Internal visual identity and restyling

We made an internal visual identity for the Department of Urban Development of the municipality of The Hague. The different disciplines of the department are easily distinguished by the clear icons, colors and typography. The visual identity has been used, in addition to the reports, for the newsletter, nameplates, envelopes etc. This helped establish the recognizability of the department within the municipality.

Ben Faydherbe

Multiple websites in cooperation

We have worked together with graphic designer Ben Faydherbe on various web design projects, including for Ruimtevaart foundation, Whispering Wall / artist Mark de Weijer, and for Ben’s own website.