OUGD603 - Brief 8 - Scrap Paper Notebook / Journal - Initial Ideas - Sketches

Initial Ideas Sketches

- The notebook / journal could bind different papers and offcuts together without cutting them in any way. This would allow the pages to retain the shapes of the papers used reflecting the idea of them being scrap and offcuts of paper.
- By doing this the pages would all be different sizes and shapes creating an interesting and tactile notebook to work with. 
- It would also make the book as a whole an irregular shape, with each books form influenced by the pages used within the book making each unique

- Alternatively the same technique could be used however there could be a limit to the size of the book e.g. A5 or A6 which would mean wherever the pages are bigger than this they would be cut to fit this size.
- This would retain the idea of the pages being all different sizes and forms, whist making the book conform to a more regular format as well 

- A tab that wraps around the book could be used as a simple way of joining all the papers together. This could either be perfect bound with the tab glued across the spine and the rest of the bind visible or coptic stitch could be used in the same way.

- Scrap paper is not always regular. The idea of a torn or rough edge could be played upon within the design. Using wiggly and uneven perforated lines on the pages could allow parts of the pages to be torn out to be used for notes. When the pages are removed this would leave behind the 'rough' edge which would create the effect of a torn page.
- This perforated page idea could be used both horizontally or vertically within pages creating different 'ripped' pages 
- Varying the shape of the line and the positioning of the 'ripped' line vertically on the different pages would create an interesting effect when multiple pages are torn out. If these vertical lines started on the cover and the pages 'torn' out from here onwards you would see the remnants of the pages from the front of the book. This would allow the remenant to become the new cover, whilst also reflecting the progression through the book as the pages are used.
- This idea could also be used as a cover idea without the use of perforated pages. The cover could be made up of torn layered papers which would reflect the imperfect scrap materials inside

- The idea of perforated pages could also be adapted so more geometric shapes were used, perhaps reflecting an offcut from another process. Pages could be perforated so that the perforation lines overlapped to create varying geometric shapes. This would break the pages up into multiple geometric shapes of different sizes and forms which could then be removed individually. Removing parts of the page would allow you to see the pages underneath creating an interesting contrast between the different pages.
- Rather than using the perforated pages the pages could be divided into these same shapes using lines which would create different sections on the pages for people to write within.
- Alternatively the pages could be perforated to create all the same shape when torn out, but at different scales e.g. a combination of small rectangles and larger rectangles on a page. The more standard shapes would make it easier to write within them, making them more functional perhaps than the other more irregular shapes. 

- Exposed coptic stitch could be used as the binding for the book as this would allow the varying papers and colours within the book to be seen, allowing the papers to be the focus of the design 
- Alternatively book tape could be used on the spine perhaps in black or white as this would contrast with the papers inside whilst also allowing the book to lay flat when written in.
- A combination of both ripped and geometric shaped pages could be used within the book. The varying sized pages could also have lined, dotted or blank pages inside allowing people to use the pages in different ways and for different functions. Layering the different sized and shaped pages up within the book with no cover would allow bits of the pages underneath to be seen creating a collage of papers within the format.
- The lines or dots could be printed on to the pages depending on the difficulty of the arrangement of the pages and thickness of the papers, or alternatively the designs could be stamped on using a rubber stamp which would allow more flexibility as to the application of the lines onto different sized papers. However the use of the rubber stamp may not have as refined results as printing onto the papers.
- Rather than using different sized pages it was considered they could all be the same size / format but alternate between different papers.

- Rather than having such an exposed book with no cover it was considered this layered effect could be replicated on a cover by layering geometric shapes that reflect some of the pages. Filling these shapes with lines or leaving them blank would reflect the pages within and create a similar collage effect on the cover.
- If papers had perforated lines when the pages were torn out this could leave a swatch of paper behind, the swatch area could have the name of the material on it to use as a reference
- If the book is made quite thick the varying shapes and sizes of the pages could create an interesting and rough finish to the page block.
- It was also thought different scrap pages could be layered up and joined using a dowel through all the pages to create a block of scrap paper, however this would be more functional as a desk piece e.g. a memo pad, rather than a notebook.