ISTD 2020: Paradiso
Concept
This publication, designed in response to the Paradiso brief, introduces canto 33 of Dante’s Divine Comedy to a new audience using illustrative typography and commentary. This design approach was developed following research into the Divine Comedy’s cultural and historical influence, and the declining rates of literacy in contemporary society. A lack of emphasis on reading classic literature has negatively impacted literacy, and complex texts such as the Divine Comedy are less widely read and appreciated. Canto 33 itself could be interpreted as a metaphor for the challenge of reading such texts; the reader becomes a pilgrim like Dante, journeying through hardship to achieve enlightenment. Dante undergoes this journey with help from Virgil, Beatrice, and other figures, whilst the reader is aided by accompanying illustration and commentary.
Target Audience
This publication is intended for secondary and third level students as an introduction to a canonical text. It would be suitable as both a formal educational tool, or a special edition for personal reading. In an educational context, the publication could be used by educators as a means of communicating not only Canto 33, but the process of analytic and comparative reading of a text to their students.
Key Developments
Setting the type in a traditional format and adding small but impactful sections of illustrative typography keeps the reader engaged without sacrificing the integrity of the canto. Binding the small commentary book into the larger canto book provides a detailed background of the canto which is always at hand as the reader navigates the text, and reflects the imagery of knowledge being ‘bound up with love together in one volume’ in the canto. Early iterations contained extensive pointillist illustration. Although this device was used sparingly in the final piece, it informed the decision to employ typographic dotted constellations on several spreads, and to use type-as-illustration on the cover design. The combination of these key elements cultivates an immersive but accessible reading experience, ideal for a new audience.
Final Outcome
The final outcome is a dual publication, containing two books bound together. Both are printed entirely in black ink, with the exception of the gold line reference numbers and typographic cover. This evokes the gilded details of Christian manuscripts and Renaissance publications, whilst paying homage to the original printed editions of Dante’s Divine Comedy. The canto book is printed on pure white paper stock, expressing the bright, celestial setting. The commentary is printed on slightly darker paper with a lighter weight, to create visual and tactile contrast. Each folio of the commentary corresponds with the opposite page of the canto, therefore when the book is laid flat the reader can access both texts, intuitively navigating the text. Illustrative typography guides the reader through key imagery in the poem, preparing them for the final moment when both Dante’s memory and the text itself fades away in the face of the divine light. Overall, this publication creates an immersive reading experience which knits canto 33 into its cultural and historical context and elucidates the canto’s meaning for a new, curious audience.
