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Design Category
Book design, 1996
Design firm
Buchanan Design (Richmond, Virginia)
Collection
(1997) 50 Books/50 Covers of 1996
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The inspiration for this project was a small leather-bound diary kept by James Avent during 1920, his first year in China. The diary was discovered by his daughter Mayna Avent Nance (my client) after his death. Having discovered a unique window on her father as a young man, her initial interest was in preserving this piece of family history for her children and grandchildren. The project grew to encompass a year and a half of research, writing, design, and assembly. We wanted to create a special keepsake that would interest not just family members but others as well. Parameters influencing the design were chiefly that this was to be a hand-built limited edition and, for the sake of longevity, that we would use archival materials and methods. I was drawn to this project for its historical and cultural aspects as well as that of a personal history. I enjoyed applying my skills as a typographer, designer, and bookmaker to create a thing enjoyable to hold, to look at, to read.