Creative Book Design- Part Five: Production -Exercise 1: What is your role?
Working with the outlined publishing models, identify the various roles you (and potentially others) will be undertaking for assignment five. For example, you’re likely to be writing your own content, designing your book, editing and reviewing it. You may also be involved in the production, printing and distribution process. Consider each aspect of the book assignment and briefly list what roles you think you’ll be doing, and what these roles entail. Also make notes of the roles of others who might be involved in your assignment and what their contribution is.
‘Model 2’ I feel is closest to the process that I will experience during this assignment. I will consider all elements of production during this task, adding to my list if needed/if a new process or stage has been learnt during designing/producing my book.
Artist/Designer:
I will be the artist and designer for this task. This includes conceptualising and testing with ideas for the book (a process that is part of but will be done before/reviewed during the designing stage). This will also involve researching topics/artists for inspiration (a researcher could again be another role, but I feel that it comes under the artist/designer stage). Before beginning with the design stage I will have to complete other roles first such as the ‘publisher’.
Publisher:
I will have the role of the publisher, I did some further research into the role of a publisher to understand more about the process. I came across a post here describing the role further.
The main roles I will have to consider are:
Picking Markets:
Instead of choosing a market or style of book that would ‘maximise revenue’ being an ‘easy’ sell, I have to choose a suitable style to convey my concept (yet to be decided).
Content Production:
The Artist/designer role would fall under this category. I will have to produce all content for the book, including any imagery and writing, including laying it out in a suitable way for printing (if digitally made) using DTP software.
Cost Control:
This is a brief role I will have to fulfil, I will have to consider any costs of printing/materials used to create my final book.
Editor:
When completing the role of the editor I will have to layout the content I have produced, view/read it and revise where necessary making improvements or changing mistakes.
Printer:
I am currently unsure whether I will complete the role of the printer and print/produce/bind the book myself or whether I will outsource for this. My choice of printing is dependant on my concept/must tie in with the narrative that I aim to convey with my book.
Distribution:
In a way I will have to fulfil the role of a distributor. Instead of working on advertising the book to specific markets presenting it in a certain way, I have to display my work in the best way possible (perhaps again relating to the narrative of the book) digitally on my blog to be viewed/assessed.
