Library book plates

A while ago I have submitted a proposal for the design of the new book plates of all the UAL libraries, and it got approved. Although designing book plates may seem as a daunting job, I have learned fascinating stuff while researching the matter.

A book plate is usually referred to a small print or a decorative lable denoting ownership. Historically, English book plates have developed from heraldic arrangements and became recognised as a minor branch of high art during the 20th century, and later became collectable items. A characteristics feature of early English book plates is the display of tinctures through a system of dots and lines /hatching system. Used during Renaissance painting and later by cooper plate engravers and heralds, the system represents a coherent method for designating color spaces. Even though variations exist, the present day hatching system was developed during 1630s by Silvester Petra Sancta and it is extensively used today in architecture and engineering.

book plates spread sheet

Since I wanted the design to bear some of the historical richness of book plates and at the same time be clean and functional, I have decided on a free floating/unrestricted composition of essential elements,corresponding with the brad colours of each UAL college. The vertical arrangement of college names ensures an immediate recognition and contrast with book title page arrangements / predominantly with horizontal text arrangement/, the use of block color and hatching pattern corresponding to the same colour provides visual reference and variation to aid colour blind users. And the suggested embossing or debossing of hatching patterns was aiming at adding a 3D/textured effect which will ‘lift off’ the book plate from the page.