Since starting the Identity Designed website as a side-project in 2010, it’s been a bit of a labour of love to collate the 500+ design projects that have been contributed from around the world. Fast forward eight years and I’m delighted to have signed a book deal with US-based Rockport to bring the name to print. The switch deserves something more special than the online features, so to make the most of the designs that’ll be showcased, the focus will be on around 20 to 30 studios at the top of their game, looking at one of their strongest identity projects and detailing the process from start to finish.
It’s being written for design students with an interest in visual identities, for studios who want to know how their peers handle projects, and for business owners who want to make the most of their time working with designers.
The trim size will be 8.5 x 10 inches, with a provisional page count of 240. Initial copies will be hardcover, potentially followed by a paperback a year or so later. If everything goes to plan, the book will be available at the end of 2018.
A quick word on contracts
If, like me, you don’t have an agent, but you still want to work with an established publisher, it makes sense to get legal advice on any potential contract. I joined the London-based Society of Authors so I could email them my terms. Within five days of joining, one of their legal team shared recommendations and suggestions that helped during contract negotiations. The Authors Guild is a similar organisation in New York.
Studio interviews
Next I need to bring the right studios on board, and I’ve drafted some interview topics to give potential contributors an idea of the detail I’m looking for.
- Finding the client
- Determining how much to charge
- Handling payment
- Contract requirements
- Questions asked at the outset
- How research is conducted
- Uncovering the problem
- Defining the strategy
- Merging strategy and design
- Crafting good ideas
- Avoiding copyright infringement
- Choosing what to present
- How to sell an idea
- Reaching consensus
- Developing guidelines
- Environmental friendliness
The resulting features will be a combination of interview, studio insight, and an in-depth look at the process of creating a visual identity. There’s a lot of work ahead, but I know it’ll be a special compilation, with memorable design and lasting advice.
Your help
This is being created with you in mind, so I’d be hugely appreciative if you could share what studio(s) or project(s) you’d like to learn more about (any size, any country). And if you could uncover anything about the design process, what would that be?
Feel free to comment below, or email: design@davidairey.com
