A Collection of essays by KHiO MA Design students (2025)
made in collaboration with Nele Kram.
Unfolding is an anthology that brings together Design MA Theory essays from an international, multidisciplinary class.
As the title suggests, folding is a key aspect of the design and construction of the publication— the cover is a multipurpose object, starting as an A5 box, that folds out to become an A3 poster and table of contents. The blue book inside can completely slide out of the cover through a slit in the spine, meaning that the poster can be used as a separate keepsake, even when the book is put back on the shelf. Unfolding and expanding seemed a fitting metaphor for our time on the theory course, where we each dove into research in our individual interests, expanding our knowledge.
As the title suggests, folding is a key aspect of the design and construction of the publication— the cover is a multipurpose object, starting as an A5 box, that folds out to become an A3 poster and table of contents. The blue book inside can completely slide out of the cover through a slit in the spine, meaning that the poster can be used as a separate keepsake, even when the book is put back on the shelf. Unfolding and expanding seemed a fitting metaphor for our time on the theory course, where we each dove into research in our individual interests, expanding our knowledge.
For one day, the entire class became a production line, collectively folding and binding the publication. Wanting to make this day as intuitive as possible affected our design process in several ways; we wanted the cover to be made without any glue to avoid mess, irreversible mistakes, or drying time. We also chose to print all of the necessary cutting, folding, and staple marks, meaning they are still visible to the reader. This resulted in a straight-forward, warm and social workshop where the class could sit and chat around a long table, letting their hands do the work instinctively. Visible marks make the process apparent, emphasising a hands-on approach to bookmaking, and perhaps serving as a reminder of that day for all of us who were there.
