A5 Booklets
4pp Cover onto 250gsm Uncoated
Matt Lamination to outer
24pp Text onto 115gsm Uncoated
Four colour print throughout
Trimmed, collated and wire stitched
The book Lovers and Enemies, designed by Ivan Listo for artist Rocco Ritchie, presents a striking and thoughtful visual narrative. From the cover to the internal pages, the publication delivers a cohesive artistic experience that communicates its core themes through minimalistic design, powerful imagery, and deliberate production choices.
The cover of the book uses a monochromatic, textured approach that immediately conveys a sense of depth and raw emotion, in alignment with the book’s title. The title “LOVERS AND ENEMIES” appears in a clean, sans-serif typeface, centred on the cover, balancing elegance with simplicity. This minimalist approach ensures that the focus remains on the content, mirroring the intimate and personal themes explored in the artwork inside. The binding is wire-stitched, which gives the book a durable yet flexible structure, appropriate for an art catalogue where ease of use and tactile engagement are key.
The book is A5 in size, which is a common choice for art gallery catalogues, and is compact enough to be easily handled while maintaining an intimate, almost personal connection with the reader. The cover’s paper choice, 250gsm uncoated stock with matte lamination, provides a tactile experience that matches the rough textures suggested by the artwork and title, giving it a contemporary yet classic feel.
The interior follows a similar understated elegance, with the text printed on 115gsm uncoated stock. The images are centred with ample white space surrounding them, allowing the art to breathe and making each portrait feel like a focal point. The use of a four-colour print process ensures a high-quality reproduction of the charcoal art pieces, capturing the tonal subtleties of each portrait.
The page layout itself is highly structured and symmetrical, creating a formal presentation of the artwork. This approach emphasises each piece’s significance, enhancing the emotional impact on the reader. The captions below each piece are succinct, including essential information about the artwork (title, medium, dimensions, and year), which ensures clarity without distracting from the imagery.
The book primarily uses a simple, all-caps, sans-serif font for the title and section headings. This choice complements the heavy charcoal portraits featured throughout, maintaining a harmonious balance between typography and image. The lack of vibrant colour further enhances the mood of seriousness and introspection, aligning with the monochromatic theme of the charcoal portraits. This decision to keep the book free from colour allows the art to convey its own intense emotion without competition from surrounding design elements.
The collaboration between Rocco Ritchie’s expressive charcoal portraits and Ivan Listo’s minimalistic design successfully conveys a message of intimacy, tension, and human connection. The choice of uncoated paper adds texture to the pages, paralleling the rough, tactile nature of the charcoal medium. This thoughtful use of material not only enhances the visual impact but also engages the reader on a sensory level, reinforcing the emotional weight of the content.
In conclusion, Lovers and Enemies stands as a beautifully executed piece of print design, demonstrating Ex Why Zed’s mastery in producing high-quality art catalogues that amplify the artist’s vision while engaging the reader through thoughtful, precise design choices. The publication is a tactile, emotional journey, making it a standout example in the realm of art books.
The print project for Lovers and Enemies began with a sense of urgency, as Ivan Listo, the designer, reached out to Ex Why Zed with a request for a booklet needed for an exhibition in London by October 12th. From the start, Ex Why Zed’s commitment to delivering a high-quality product within tight deadlines is evident. The project exemplifies our ability to handle quick turnarounds without compromising on quality, ensuring the client felt supported throughout the entire process.
The project started with Ivan’s inquiry about producing a 28-page A5 portrait booklet. Initially, Ivan suggested using 200gsm silk paper for the cover with 130gsm silk for the inner pages, saddle-stitched. He sought advice on paper choice and requested quotes for 50 and 100 copies.
Ex Why Zed swiftly responded, not only providing competitive pricing but also offering advice on ensuring files would be print-ready by a specific deadline. We were proactive in sending Ivan comprehensive guidance on how to prepare artwork for wire-stitched booklets, making the process smoother for the client.
During the back-and-forth, Ivan showed flexibility and a willingness to adapt based on our expert recommendations. He asked if thicker paper (170gsm) might be a better option for a more premium feel. We provided a revised quote for the new specification, ensuring transparency in costs and confirming his preference for black-coloured staplers, though we only had the standard silver/grey available.
After further discussions, Ivan decided on uncoated paper for a more natural, tactile feel, a shift from the initial silk finish. This demonstrates how Ex Why Zed was instrumental in guiding the client to make decisions that aligned with the project’s artistic goals, such as highlighting the texture and mood of the artwork. We adjusted the specifications again, upgrading to a 250gsm uncoated cover and 115gsm uncoated inner pages, while maintaining competitive pricing.
One of the key moments in the collaboration occurred after the final artwork had been approved. Mike Heaton, Print and Design Yoda at Ex Why Zed, noticed the prestigious nature of the exhibition and suggested increasing the paper weight to give the booklet a more premium, high-end feel. This level of attention to detail and willingness to suggest improvements, even late in the process, reflects Ex Why Zed’s dedication to delivering the best possible result.
Ivan agreed to increase the weight of the inside pages to 170gsm but chose to retain the 250gsm cover with matt lamination, maintaining a balance between a premium feel and ease of handling.
Once the final proof was approved, Ex Why Zed promptly began production and ensured the booklets were ready for delivery ahead of schedule. Ivan’s client, Rocco Ritchie, needed the booklets by October 10th, and we coordinated the logistics to meet this deadline. We also managed to ship two extra copies to Ivan in Italy, showing our flexibility and willingness to accommodate special requests.
After receiving the booklets, Ivan expressed his satisfaction with the result, stating that they looked “perfect.” Rocco Ritchie was equally pleased and inquired about the possibility of producing 50 additional A4 copies with a hardback cover. Although hardback binding would have been more complex due to time constraints and the limitations of perfect binding for smaller page counts, Ivan appreciated our transparent communication regarding the feasibility of the request.
This project highlights Ex Why Zed’s dedication to working collaboratively with designers and artists, guiding them through the entire print process—from material choices to artwork setup and final production. Despite tight deadlines and several specification changes, we successfully delivered a premium booklet that met both the client’s and the artist’s expectations.
By offering expert advice and maintaining open communication throughout, we ensured that Lovers and Enemies was delivered on time, leaving a lasting impression on both Ivan Listo and Rocco Ritchie. This collaboration sets the stage for potential future projects, such as Rocco’s request for hardback editions, demonstrating the trust and satisfaction that Ex Why Zed consistently delivers to its clients.
