1st Workshop
Conditions for Being a Book
24 May – 28 June 2026,
Every Sunday, 1 – 4 pm (TBD)

The first workshop, “Conditions for Being a Book,” and the second workshop, “Everything will become a book (in the end),” are planned to complement one another. “Conditions for Being a Book” aims to help participants understand the basic elements that are consist of a book—typography, images, paper, binding, and liniar structure—and to share practical information on book making process. Participants will research topics related to books or book culture that interest them individually, then create a 32-page saddle-stitched book. The workshop concludes with a collaborative project: participants will create a title for a magazine (composed of these saddle-stitched books) and design its components—such as the table of contents, title page, and credit—to experience the process of creating a complete book.

2nd Workshop
Everything will become a book (in the end)
(TBD)


The follow-up workshop, “Everything will become a book (in the end),” includes a research process that reflects more personal interests. Over four weeks, participants will have the opportunity to closely connect their specific ideas with the formal language and structure of a book, or to restructure and contextualize their researched materials to suit their purpose. Participants will share their work processes with one another to develop their ideas, and in the final week of the workshop, they will discuss and implement production methods that align with their ideas.
         

Workshop Fee 
Standard: €360
Student: €300
Join the Workshop︎︎︎  

* Workshop fee is only for the 1st workshop Conditions for Being a Book.

Workshop Facilitator: Dokho Shin
Dokho Shin is a designer based in Berlin and Seoul. He graduated from Dankook University’s Department of Visual Design and the Hamburg University of the Arts (HFBK)’s Department of Graphic Design. He has worked primarily with artists and cultural institutions, and works as an editor and designer for GRAPHIC magazine. He enjoys projects that focus on the formal characteristics of books as a material medium, and is interested in creating new contexts by weaving together materials and phenomena loosely connected to books.

www.shindokho.kr
IG: @shindokho

Output:

• A saddle-stitched book (32 pages) with visualizations of each participant’s ideas, and a magazine compiled from these saddle-stitched books
  

This workshop is for:

• Students and designers interested in books and book-related culture
  
• Those with a strong interest in dealing with typography and image
  
• Those who want to experience the whole process of creating a book
  
• Workshop Level: Graphic design majors and students comfortable using Adobe InDesign

Program Overview

• The workshop explores book structures through reference materials and shares ways to apply the knowledge.
  
• Participants will research books or phenomena loosely connected to the elements of a book. The subject of research can be anything related to books.
  
• Throughout the process, participants will share their research and ideas with one another and explore various possibilities for making their own books.
  
• Participants will experience the entire book-making process within the workshop culminating in individual saddle-stitched booklets that are compiled into a single publication.

What Sets This Course Apart:

• The workshop provides specific insights into the major considerations when creating a book.
  
• Participants will explore typography in depth, focusing on how it relates to the content.
  
• The workshop shares practical information related to important steps of the printing process.

Week 1
Structure of a book, terminology, and expanded forms

1. Instructor introduction and orientation
   
2. Workshop overview
3. Terminology for specific parts of a book, and possible alternatives after understanding the basic structure
   
4. Brainstorming research topics and preparing workshop materials (Research): What kinds of materials can become more interesting when compiled into a book? The workshop introduces projects related to “the book as a medium” and shares the background of the projects.
5. Q&A and assignment guidelines

Week 2
Presentation and discussion for research directions

1. Assignment feedback and Q&A
   
2. Presentations on individual research directions (from participants)
   
3. About the process of visualizing ideas: How can we find a form that complements or collides with the content? The workshop explores the relationship between a book’s content and design principles, with several specific projects.
   
4. Exchange of materials among participants; finalization of research directions
   
5. Q&A and assignment guidelines

Week 3
Sharing research processes, and exploring types of printing and binding method

1. Assignment Feedback and Q&A
   
2. Sharing individual research processes
   
3. Printing methods: The workshop introduces the most commonly used printing methods such as offset, UV, silk-screen printing, and lithography. The workshop talks about the pros and cons of each technique, and how they are applied for specific purposes.
   
4. Binding methods: The workshop explores binding methods suitable for mass production, such as saddle-stitch, perfect/PUR, and sewn-binding. We will discuss the pros and cons of each binding technique.
   
5. Individual feedback session: The group will focus on discussing how to present the researched materials (text/images) in a tangible form.
   
6. Q&A and assignment guidelines

Week 4
Presentation of research findings, pre-printing checklist

1. Assignment feedback and Q&A
   
2. Sharing of individual research findings and presentation of planned design directions
   
3. Individual feedback session: Final feedback for the 32-page saddle-stitched booklet
   
4. Pre-printing checklist: There are many variables in the printing process. The workshop will discuss the steps that must be taken in advance to minimize unforeseen issues and ensure they remain under control. We will share practical information such as image optimization, PDF export settings based on paper type, and final checklists.
   
5. Q&A and Assignment Guidelines

Week 5
Individual book presentations. Magazine title workshop (collaborative project)

1. Presentation of Saddle-Stitched Books: Participants will try to get an understanding of each other’s works through the presentation process.
   
2. Pagination plan: Considering the ideas, concepts, and contexts of each book, participants explore layout arrangements that create a specific narrative when compiled into a single volume.
   
3. Naming the title: Brainstorm potential titles and consider the ideas or direction the book conveys.
   
4. Magazine title design workshop: Design the title based on the chosen title and ideas.
   
5. Q&A and Assignment Instructions

Week 6
Final decision on the book (collaborative project)

1. Typesetting: Considering typefaces that complement the magazine title and apply it throughout the layout.
   
2. From the table of contents to the credits page: Review all components of the publication.
   
3. Printing and binding methods: Consider the magazine’s form and structure, referencing the printing and binding methods discussed in Week 3.
   
4. Creating a mock-up
   
5. Final feedback on the project and Q&A