Getting inspired by (vintage) books instead of instagram

Sep 10

book tout noir, Gilles Baum and Amandine Piu

Lately I've been seeing a lot of Instagram reels that say, you're doing this wrong if you... Are you still designing like this? Then you're doing it wrong... I'm almost starting to doubt myself! In general, Instagram is the social media I use to show my work, get inspired and connect with other designers or clients. But I find this trend very tiring. My response is to make my own plans and to delve more into my bookshelves for inspiration or techniques. Without anyone giving me the feeling that my way of trying, working, designing, interests, etc. is not the right one. I would like to take you with me "into my bookcase". I found some great vintage books on paper cutting and a beautiful book made bij cutouts.  I bought this one last year in Paris and I really like to show it to you!

Book 1: "Leer knippende zien" (Learn to see cutting) is a book from 1970. It explains the basics of cutting and shows simple to very complex work. A classic. Book 2: a book of "Avonturen met papier" ("adventures with paper") from 1972. Great drawings and simple paper ideas. Book 3: is a German booklet "Scherenschnitte", from 1980 that I bought somewhere. There are great examples in there. I tried one of them, or at least I quickly started to give it my own interpretation. My latest vintage book on paper cutting is a Swedish book. Book 4:  "Papirclipp", from 1077. With wonderful 70's examples. Finally, Book 5: the book "Tout Noir" a pop-up book/skyline with a beautiful story about New York where the light goes out. The main character takes a box of matches and goes to look for her mother who is outside in the dark. Along the way she meets a giraffe and a musician who help her search. 
This book is inspiring. What cut-out choices did they make? You can leave out a lot and still tell a story. It's just black with yellow, and grey drawing lines. I love the cut out faces in the light of the match. When you look at the back of a page, (last picture) where there are no line drawings to guide you, its amazing how little you need to show to tell a story.

I am happy I rediscovered my bookcase with a lot of amazing books. And I can look at my books without someone telling me not to, in my own time and my own pace. Have a look in your bookcase and pull out that gem you might have forgotten about and just enjoy looking through it.