Irma boom designed an inspirational book that would take its reader on a journey through the. Irma boom was born in 1960 is an amsterdambased graphic designer specialising in book design. For five years they worked on the 26page book shv think book 1996 1896 commissioned by shv holdings in utrecht and published in english and chinese. It took five years, and by the time she finished it, in. Booms design for the book weaving as metaphor by american artist sheila hicks 2006 received the the most beautiful book in the world award at the leipzig book fair. Irma booms think book for shv irma boom, book design. Shv think book 1996 1896 the book was a collaboration of designer irma boom and art historian johan pijappel. Profusely illustrated with colour and blackandwhite pictures and special typographical effects. Designer irma boom and art historian johan pijnappel were commissioned by paul fentener van vlissingen 19412006 to create a book on the occasion of the centenary of the steenkolen handelsvereeniging shv, which had something to do with the motto of this family business. Shv think book 19961896, one of booms early commissions, is illustrative of her experimental and influential approach to book design. Book celebrating the centenary of the dutch conglomerate shv, 1996. This video was taken in the university of amsterdam special collections as a visual aid for my resma. Irma boom irma boom, book design, book design layout.
Created during an extensive fiveyear process that involved researching the company, attending shareholder meetings, interviewing employees. The think book was published in english and chinese. Her most ambitious project to date was a book celebrating the centenary of the dutch conglomerate shv in 1996. Boom was commissioned to create a jubilee for the coal trade company, shv. For who missed this retrospective, which already for the personal and just perfect presentation was worth visiting, a short visual report. Fentener paul van vlissingen told them for a business book on the occasion of the centenary of the coal traders.
Irma boom is an amsterdambased graphic designer, specialized in making books. The book was designed in amsterdam by irma boom, and i thank her for her extraordinary eye and prodigious talent for making books beautiful. Distinguished book designer irma boom makes miniature versions of her books in an almost architectural manner. Irma boom on standing up for yourself, even in the face of.
Shv think book 1996 1896, edited and designed by irma boom, 1996. Boom introduced the idea of a fat book overtly thick book and has made more than 300 books, 100 of which are in the permanent collection of moma in new york. Irma boom studied graphic design at the aki art academy in enschede. Irma booms think book for shv a photo on flickriver. Irma boom goes under cover at slewe gallery, amsterdam open now at amsterdams slewe gallery, under cover is an exhibition of seminal book design by irma boom. Seth siegelaub and jack wendlers xerox book, 1968, is one of the 12 books in the exhibition that boom considers crucial in her work as a designer. The shv book is designed by irma boom in editorial collaboration with art historian johan pineal. Shv think book 19961896, edited and designed by irma boom, 1996. We calculated that it needs 500 years to spread to all the places in the world. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. In may 1996, when the shv book was finally published, the result was like no other jubilee book. This eleven centimetres thick book, 2,6 unnumbered pages, which appeared in 1996, caused a sensation. Irma boom born 1960121515 december 1960 in lochem, gelderland, netherlands, is a dutch graphic designerwho specializes in book making.
Shv 1896 1996 this elevencentimetrethick book, which runs to 2,6 unnumbered pages, created a sensation when it was published in 1996. Since 1992 she has been a critic at yale university in america and the van eyck academy at maastricht. White cloth with spine decoration and eight red ribbons, in black cardboard box decorated with shv flag. This because of the printing delights with which it has been manufactured. The book utilizes the nonlinear structure of the internet, which was then quite new. The shv commemorative book is the most expensive commemorative book ever published. The 2,6 page commemorative shv think book 1996 which was antichronological and also devoid of page numbers and index became her international breakthrough. The 2,6page book took five years to complete, and was finally published in 1996. Irma boom s think book for shv at more than 4 inches thick and weighing in at nearly 8 pounds, the 2,6page commemorative think book for shv, a dutch holding company, took designer irma boom 5 years to complete. Since opening irma boom office in amsterdam in 1991 she has designed scores of books, as well as teaching at yale in the us and the van eyck academy at maastricht. Her most ambitious project to date was a book celebrating the centenary of the dutch conglomerate shv in 1996 to which she devoted five years of work.
In 1991, boom was commissioned by shv holdings, the dutch trading company, to produce a book that. Centennial album jubileumboek aka thinkbook hardcover 1996 by irma boom author, johan pijnappel author. Designer irma boom and art historian johan pijnappel were commissioned by paul fentener van vlissingen 19412006 to create a book on the occasion of the centenary of the steenkolen handelsvereeniging shv, which had something to do with the motto of this family. Boom has been described as the queen of books, having created over 300 books and is well reputed for her artistic autonomy within her field. Irma booms think book for shv at more than 4 inches thick and weighing in at nearly 8 pounds, the 2,6page commemorative think book for shv, a dutch holding company, took designer irma boom 5 years to complete. Shv think book 1996 1896, 1996 one of boom s early commissions. In 1991 boom founded irma boom office, which works nationally and internationally in both the cultural and commercial sectors. For five years boom worked with the editing and conceptdesign of the 2,6page shv think book 1996 1896, commissioned by shv holdings in utrecht and published in english and chinese. To this very day young typographers come to the museum to have a look at the book weighing 3. Livre d artistes french edition by irma boom dec 17, 20. Watch her demonstrate and discuss these unique miniature books, which are among the worlds smallest. The shv book is designed to be distributed around the world too its pace of distribution is just very slow. Irma boom is an amsterdambased graphic designer specialised in making books.
Irma boom is the queen of books a dutch graphic artist revolutionizes bookmaking. Irma boom has received many awards for her book designs and was the youngest laureate to be awarded the prestigious gutenberg prize for her complete oeuvre. Irma boom by corinne magarry designhistorykingscliff. Shv 1896 1996 museum meermanno het verscheen in twee edities. Shv think book edited and designed by irma boom, 1996 book for shv, irma boom oversized object pushed the limit of the conventional book format, reconfiguring the traditional reading experience. They say you cant judge a book by its cover, unless its an irma boom book, then you know its going to be good. At more than 4 inches thick and weighing in at nearly 8 pounds, the 2,6page commemorative think book for shv, a dutch holding company, took designer irma boom 5 years to complete. Typical to irma s design is a unique treatment of the edge of the pages. For this, the first in conversation of a new series, we sit down with irma boom in her extraordinary studio and home in amsterdam to talk about fighting your corner, researching in the vatican, and the ongoing value of the book.
The most expensive commemorative book ever published. The 2,6 page book was worked on for a span of five years before being published in 1996. For five years she worked editing and conceptdesign on the 2,6page shv think book 1996 1896, commissioned by shv holdings in utrecht. This elevencentimetrethick book, which runs to 2,6 unnumbered pages, created a sensation when it was published in 1996. Irma boom is an amsterdambased graphic designer who specializes in making books. Paul fentener van vlissingen, ceo of the dutch conglomerate shv, tasked boom with creating a book to commemorate the centenary of his company. The book turned out to be a landmark in her career.
The 2,6page shv think book 1996 1896, commissioned by shv holdings utrecht, designed by irma boom, 1996. For five years she worked editing and conceptdesign on the 26page book shv think book 1996 1896 commissioned by shv holdings in utrecht. Irma booms think book for shv at more than 4 inches. Biography in books at the special collections department of the library of the university of amsterdam ran until october 3. In this book, from one view the colors read as tulips and from the other way you can read a poem by gerrit.
There was not chosen for an advertisinglike edition with tables and executive portraits, inspiration and uniqueness were paramount. Boom, im really fond of video images, i put lines in the image to give it a feeling of 1996 and the future. I have had this book for a few years, and now its time to sell it. The project began in 1991 with boom s only prompt being to look for the unusual.