Esthetical Material And Skillful Technique

This dissertation starts with the designing principle "the year has seasons, the ground has spirit, materials are esthetical, techniques are skillful" proposed in Skillful Techniques, a classic work about technical design which influences the history of Chinese design for thousands of years. "Esthetical material" and "skillful technique" are principles which are worthy of concerning in book design, because materials are not only the physical base and the carrier of the content, and also are closely related to printing techniques; the designing plan is the basis of printing, editing and the determining condition of yielding good productions. Therefore, designers must master knowledge of materials and printing techniques. Along with the development of industry and modern science, especially the constant reforms of paper materials and printing techniques caused by high and new technology, we should make choices and proof of materials and printing techniques during the process of book design. With the clue of the evolution of materials for book design, this paper analyzes the developing process of material language and its functions and attributes in the contemporary design, through clearing the relationship between book materials and designs as well as studying the representing role of materials themselves. Based on the above, this paper analyzes the origin of material language and its significance in extending the scope of book design, aiming at observing the aesthetic fashion of modern book design and uncovering the applicative rules of aesthetic materials and skillful techniques in book design, to accomplish the perfect spiritual and physical consistency of books and improve books' function and usefulness. Material thinking should be taken into account and the role of materials in book design should be emphasized. We should be good at finding out material beauty and make good use of it, according to the connotation of the book, we mix the art design and material together. Materials are designing language, which inaugurates a new way of modern book design. Materials, as an independent aesthetic element, should deserve emphasis and be presented into book design, and the aesthetic perception of materials should be investigated and used in a deeper level.