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#3 (39) 2006 Navigation
Editor’s Letter
Books: Eternal and Beautiful
The other day I read some good glossy magazines like “Esquire” and “Forbes”, among others. I read glossy introductions by editors-in-chief with
admiring envy. I admired the profoundness and gentleness of the Russian language in these introductions… Time has come for me to write my column. The
subject of the new issue of our magazine is near and dear and exciting. It is book design—again. A certain quintessence of culture. The heroes from Japan,
Russia, U.S. and the Netherlands are on parade. The frontiers between these countries have been erased by the slogan “More Good Design!” This especially
shows in book design, with its responsibility to the previous generation of designers and to the challenge of book designers. And what about the
responsibility to 600 years of European design or 3000 years of Chinese design? It seems that one doesn’t think about it when he works, but it is in the
air.
Modern design plumes itself on its freedom. One can look upon the paper used in a book as air, as new space possessing equal rights with the letters, the
text and the meaning. A book edge becomes a mystery and a password for the initiates. A book has turned into a toy for the initiates and those who really
love it.…What will happen to all these initiates (and us) in 500 years? We can believe in responsibility and loyalty to one’s vocation. However, we would
prefer to believe in design which will make its way with the help of a book. Owning a book is something amazing, tactual and comfortable, akin to such
notions as “home”, “comfort”, “cosiness” and “happiness”. Leafing through “Esquire” and “Forbes”, I thought that these good and beautiful magazines are
becoming more and more like books in terms of design, structure and rhythm. Books—Eternal and Beautiful.
Peter Bankov
Content issue
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