What We Lose

The evolution of the printed book is a long, historical narrative you've undoubtedly read about at some point in your life. But despite its rich history, printed matter is moving away from the masses it once served, to a niche market catering to the creative urban dweller. The Electronic Information Age Book is a beautiful example of what we lose when we choose to simply export files into various digital formats. Boasting interesting colors, experimental typography, and worthwhile content, the third book in Adam Michaels’ series “Inventory Books” forces readers to question their relationship with the written word. The size of the page, the width of the margins, the texture of the paper, are all decisions consciously made by a designer seeking to communicate a specific message. Unlike film, which “has been formatted to fit your screen,” much of a what a book has to offer is in the tactility and actual existence of the object. What is a publication worth to you when you’ve simple downloaded a file onto a device? The ten signature composition of Michaels’ creation is full of innovative design, reminding readers that speed is not always the answer to an inquiry of accessibility.