We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Andrew Bellamy about their original and creative Reference Book design work. Andrew Bellamy is an award-winning communication designer, that makes our world a better place with their original reference book works.
Andrew Bellamy ("AB") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Analogue Photography Reference Book . Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
AB : The book is designed for a new generation of creative discovering film photography and visually inspired by the style of mid-century camera manuals.
AB : Although realised in a much shorter time, the book has been a work in progress for 8 years, started in Miami and finished in New York. The content of the book started as the Glossary of my website ilottvintage.com—the website dedicated to film photography—back in 2010 and as the information grew it was time to take it back to an analogue medium and package it in a style that would be compelling and inspiring to the new generation of photographer discovering film. The first version of the book was printed as a short run of 35 copies in 2016 and then published as a first edition of 2,000 copies in 2017. It has since had editions printed in Germany, Spain and the USA.
AB : The book started as a personal project which I printed in a very limited edition of 35 copies. This sold out quickly and was featured on several global blogs. It was seen by VETRO editions in Berlin who contacted me about publishing a full edition.
AB : The book has been produced in British English by Ars-Imago Editions in Europe, American English by Princeton Architectural Press, in German by Seltmann+Söhne, and in Spanish by Gustavo Gili.
AB : The content of the book covers everything I have learned and found useful on my personal journey as a photographer since high-school and packaged for a person starting their own journey now. It can be read from start to finish or accessed quickly a chapter at a time as all cross references in the text are linked to relevant information in other sections—an analogue version of the hyperlink we have become accustomed to in the tunnels of the internet.
AB : The new generation of photographer discovering not just photography but specifically film photography who is likely using a vintage model as their first camera.
AB : At the time of writing the book is unique in content and style as a contemporary reference manual. It is simultaneously modern and classic and created from a designer's point-of-view. Information is easy to read, readily accessible and easy to digest.
AB : What is most unique is the level of authorship. Having written the text I created every aspect of the book design—illustrations, photographs, layout and even typefaces—myself.
AB : Giorgio Di Noto of Ars-Imago in Italy acted as technical adviser and John Z. Komurki was editor of the text.
