For the past few weeks, I have been collaborating with a
Graphic design student to improve the layout and print of my photobook for the ‘Seeking
out Euphoria’ project.

In February, I approached a Graphic design tutor at Huddersfield
University and put out an open call for a Graphic design student who would be
interesting in collaborating with me to design and create my photobook. Since,
I have been meeting weekly with a Graphic designer who has knowledge and
experience in designing and producing photobooks. We have been focusing on the
layout and design of text, image positioning and designing an effective front
cover, using Laia Abril’s ‘On Abortion: And the Repercussions of lack of access’
and Mathieu Asselin’s ‘Monsanto’ as inspiration.

Collaborating with a graphic designer has given me more
insight into the design process behind photobooks and the vital role those
graphic designers fulfil in the process. I’ve found that communication when
collaborating is key. When starting to collaborate, we both discussed my interest
in Laia Abril and Matthieu Asselin’s books and the Graphic designer’s knowledge
on photographers such as Willem Verbeeck to get to know each other’s
backgrounds. It was also important that I communicated my intentions within the
project and how I wanted my images to feel to be able to design the photobook
effectively, and to be honest with the designer when I thought a certain design
choice wasn’t working.

After collaborating for almost a month, both me and the
graphic designer have designed and printed a dummy book that we believe is
close to the final design. After discussing the delicacy and quite tones that I
intended to run through the book, we have experimented with typology, negative space,
and image size to reflect these tones through the design of the photobook.

Overall, my experience collaborating with a graphic designer
has been a positive one. I have learnt about the importance of communication
and have gained insight into the role of the graphic designer and the attention
to detail that is needed when deigning a photobook.