Jean-Michel Othoniel
Mandate
Fascinated by glass sculptures while adding a hint of modernism and aestheticism to create an emotional geometry with his works. Jean-Michel Othoniel is no stranger to the arts, exploring all sorts of mixed media especially with glass. By taking inspiration from history, nature, literature and poetry, he says that his main source of imaginativeness transpires from Jan Hoet’s works which includes sulfur. Othoniel’s works are composed of emotions and past experiences and reflect that into his works.
Design Thinking
Exploring different ways to express his works and concepts, I thought of layering with a slip case and using transparency/ opacity to refer to his iconic glass works. I played around and thought of more ideas but when looking at the artist's work, I was compelled to play with his use of spherical shapes and his themes of memory and harmony.
Design Making
To create an elegant and classy feel for the book "Beneath the Reflection," I designed the front and back covers with close-ups of Jean-Michel Othoniel's work, featuring key elements in circle-like bubbles. The matte coating adds a soft texture, subtly integrating the title into the cover. The slipcase, made of frosted circles and transparent material, conceals the orb-like areas until revealed. I used a futuristic font for the title and main text, overlapping them to mimic airy spaces within the book. Quotes are highlighted in an elegant font, standing out from the main text. The layout is simple and breathable, incorporating images of Othoniel's past works to enhance the design.
Develop a visually stunning art book that tells the story of the artist's life and work in a classic, storytelling style, highlighting their experiences and artistic achievements.