IMAGE 2 / Each article’s opening page is assigned
a different coloured circle which corresponded
with the eBook cover.

Our research included looking at the body of
work the Vignelli design firm has created. We
considered some of their more influential
work, such as the designs for the New York City
subway systems, and some print designs they
have produced over the years that prominently
feature the colour red.

The NYC subway maps, especially the older
ones, are quite beautiful and simple. The
various colourful lines overlapping and
spreading over an egg-white surface was a visual
that particularly appealed to our team.

Our final design is the product of various initial
iterations that were simplified as the project
neared its end. We had the text and imagery
that we needed from the Design Observer, but we
had nothing that tied the everything together
with one cohesive visual language. Our solution
was to create a cover and openings for each
section that included vector images inspired by
Vignelli’s subway map.

The cover went through a process of
simplification throughout the project. (imace 1)
We started by featuring a portrait of the
Vignellis together, and while it was a beautiful
image, it did not suit the publication. We next
appropriated the cover of the NYC subway
maps (seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/
dsostatic/3947688462/in/photostream). We
started with an overabundance of dots and
simplified the design as we worked toward the
final version. The cover we ultimately chose was
the one with colourful dots on a light coloured
background, as it most embodied what we think
of as Vignelli’s bold design style.

The openings for each article also underwent
changes throughout the process. Our first
iteration was heavily inspired by the colourful