210x210mm Casebound Books
Cover onto Winter&Co Wibalin Finelinen Grey WBF541
Wrapped over greyboard case
Foiling to outer
2x 4pp End Papers unprinted onto 175gsm Colorplan Ebony
78 inside pages onto 170gsm Silk FSC Certified (12mm spine)
Printed in full colour throughout
Trimmed, collated and case bound.
The art book Brief Lives by Rob MacGillivray, printed and bound by Ex Why Zed, showcases a cohesive blend of striking visuals and refined production values. The overall aesthetic of the book exudes professionalism and simplicity, encapsulating MacGillivray’s artistic intent in a sleek and accessible format.
The book is casebound, adhering to high-quality production standards. The choice of Winter & Co Wibalin Finelinen Grey for the cover adds a subtle yet elegant texture. The foiling on the cover and spine—clean and crisp—creates an understated yet memorable first impression. This combination of materials not only ensures durability but also enhances the tactile experience of the reader.
The book is printed at a size of 210x210mm, making it compact yet substantial. The square format serves the visual content well, giving ample space for the artwork without overwhelming the page. The unprinted endpapers, made from 175gsm Colorplan Ebony, provide a clean and smooth transition from the cover to the interior, further reinforcing the book’s high-end feel.
The book’s interior pages are printed on 170gsm Silk FSC Certified paper. The silk finish adds a delicate sheen to the pages, making the colours of the artwork pop while still retaining a refined look. The typography is minimal and precise, allowing the images to take centre stage. The clean sans-serif typeface used for titles, captions, and body text is professional and unobtrusive, contributing to the book’s overall understated elegance.
Brief Lives features vibrant yet controlled use of colour in its illustrations. The contrast between black-and-white photography and vivid, expressive figure sketches creates an engaging visual narrative. The artwork has a fluid, sketch-like quality, with a mix of line work and bold, splashes of colour that convey emotion and movement.
The artist’s figure drawings often highlight human form and vulnerability, while the mix of ink and watercolour textures keeps the viewer’s eye engaged. The design’s simplicity ensures that the art feels immersive, with generous margins around the artwork allowing each piece to breathe on the page. The consistency of the page layout—always balancing the imagery with clean text—ensures that the reader’s focus remains on the artistic content.
By combining minimalist design, high-quality materials, and striking visual content, Brief Lives serves as an excellent case study for artists and designers looking to produce polished and impactful art books. The choices made in binding, paper stock, and layout design are not only functional but elevate the overall aesthetic and experience, creating a product that is both visually engaging and physically satisfying to hold.
The print journey for Brief Lives, Rob MacGillivray’s hardback art book, was a collaboration built on clear communication, creative problem-solving, and a shared vision for an exceptional final product. From initial consultations to the finished delivery, the project reflects the seamless partnership between Ex Why Zed and MacGillivray, overcoming challenges with professionalism and precision.
Rob MacGillivray approached Ex Why Zed with a vision for a high-quality art book that encapsulated his twelve years of artistic work. From the start, MacGillivray expressed an interest in premium materials, particularly linen covers with foil embossed titles. This request led to a detailed back-and-forth as Ex Why Zed provided multiple cover options, foiling techniques, and potential paper stocks to match his creative aspirations.
MacGillivray’s request for a linen or cloth cover with gold or white foiling was met with an open dialogue on the cost implications, especially for smaller print runs. Ex Why Zed provided transparent pricing updates and material suggestions, highlighting options from their trusted supplier, Winter & Co, which included various Wibalin and Wicotex cloths suitable for foil blocking. The team guided MacGillivray on the pros and cons of textured covers, noting that heavily textured cloth could lead to imperfections in the foiling, which was integral to achieving the clean, crisp look MacGillivray sought.
As the project moved forward, Ex Why Zed provided comprehensive support on file setup and artwork preparation. One key consideration was ensuring the page count was accurate, a common hurdle in book projects. Ex Why Zed’s expertise helped clarify that the 80 internal pages MacGillivray requested did not include the endpapers, preventing potential miscalculations during printing.
MacGillivray faced challenges with the intricacy of his cover design. He was unsure whether the fine lines in his illustration would translate well into foil. Ex Why Zed suggested running a test foil on a similar linen stock to evaluate how well the design would hold up, offering valuable insights into how different materials and design elements would interact in the final print. This step ensured that MacGillivray’s expectations aligned with the technical realities of printing, reducing the risk of disappointment later in the process.
Throughout the production process, MacGillivray remained engaged in every decision, from colour choices to material selection. After reviewing several options, he settled on Winter & Co’s Wibalin Finelinen Grey WBF541 for the cover, with matt black foiling for the text and image. Ex Why Zed facilitated the smooth transition from concept to production, ensuring all elements, including the paper stock for the interior pages, were finalised ahead of schedule.
Despite a tight deadline—MacGillivray had an upcoming art show with a private viewing scheduled for mid-September—Ex Why Zed worked efficiently, adjusting timelines to accommodate his hard stop. A small hiccup arose when MacGillivray noticed that the books had white, rather than black, endpapers, which he had originally requested. Ex Why Zed quickly resolved this by offering a refund or discount on future print runs.
The books were delivered to MacGillivray on time, meeting his deadline with room to spare. His initial reactions were overwhelmingly positive, particularly praising the foiling quality on the cover and the print quality of the interior pages. Ex Why Zed’s advice on handling black-and-white images had been crucial in achieving the precise look MacGillivray desired, further cementing his satisfaction with the final product.
Although there was a minor regret about the positioning of the title and image on the front cover, MacGillivray acknowledged that this was a learning experience for future projects. He appreciated the overall quality, praising the binding, paper, and vibrant colour reproduction, and expressed his hope to work with Ex Why Zed again in the future.
The journey of Brief Lives illustrates Ex Why Zed’s commitment to delivering high-quality print solutions while fostering a collaborative relationship with the client. Through detailed communication, clear guidance, and expert problem-solving, the project successfully navigated both creative and technical challenges, resulting in a product that exceeded expectations. The final art book is not only a testament to Rob MacGillivray’s work but also a shining example of Ex Why Zed’s capabilities in producing premium hardback publications on tight deadlines.
The overwhelmingly positive reception from MacGillivray, along with his intention to share the project on social media and collaborate again, highlights the success of this print journey and the lasting impact of exceptional customer service and print quality.
