Air Mask
Trio Design & Marketing Communications, Inc., Akron, Ohio, 2006
Description
Air Mask is a book of poems by Vanita Oelschlager. It reaches out to those who have been tested by the daily struggles of living with multiple sclerosis and other chronic diseases. “Air Mask” is particularly fitting as the title poem. The caregiver must indeed make sure she or he is getting enough oxygen before trying to help anyone else. This is conveyed in the cover design with a multilevel emboss that portrays the tubing of an oxygen mask.
Vanita asks us to understand a little more about the life of the caregiver. The burden of trying to provide for another’s most basic human needs often leaves many gasping for air. Yet most forge ahead, putting on a brave face—a mask—for the rest of the world to see, including the one needing and getting the care. The design visually communicates the intertwined lives of caregivers with those they care for; thus the photography in Air Mask shows how two images depend on each other to make a single statement. As such, it serves as a wonderful metaphor for the journey of Vanita’s and Jim’s lives, which is shared in these pages.
Juror Notes
“Terrific cause—beautifully crafted book.”
Credits
- Design firm
- Trio Design & Marketing Communications, Inc.
- Creative director
- David M. Buehler
- Art director/designer
- Jennie Levy Smith
- Jacket designer
- Jennie Levy Smith
- Photographer
- David Shoenfelt
- Production director
- David M. Buehler
- Production coordinator
- David M. Buehler
- Production artist
- Jennie Levy Smith
- Picture editors
- David M. Buehler, Jennie Levy Smith
- Author
- Vanita Oelschlager
- Editor
- Kurt Landefeld
- Trim size
- 6.5 x 8 inches
- Pages
- 77
- Quantity printed
- 3,000
- Printer
- Austin Printing, Inc.
- Jacket printer
- Austin Printing, Inc.
- Paper
- Sundance Felt Natural White 80 lb. (cover); Finch Opaque Vanilla Vellum 80 lb. (text); Gilbert Clearfold White Medium 30 lb.
- Binder
- Steffens
- Binding method
- Perfect
- Publisher/client
- Trio Publishing