Some consider that physical books are not the future, where we spend so much time in the digital world; why would someone opt for print?
It’s funny that with the expansion of AI and digital media, somehow, the printed book feels even more beautiful because it is real. It has a size, a shape, a texture to the paper, a tone to the ink and an opportunity to be in the space you live without glaring a light at you. Even after it has long entered your background on the bookshelf, unnoticed, it may catch the eye of a visitor who could then be inspired by it. It could spark a conversation, or an interest. There is a slower pace to a book. In a fast-paced world, it is a friend, it asks for nothing, but it offers a way to escape into its pages, without popping up several messages or distractions as it does so. It is also a private space for you both, as it shares thoughts or learnings with you without anything observing your path of research or thought.
I have been writing about the wonderful martial art mau rākau as a little side project while learning the practice and my teacher Matiu has been helping me to do so. But I have come to learn that writing is one thing, publishing it as a book is another. Fortunately, the practice of architecture appears to offer transferable skills into graphic design and layout, formatting and production. On the journey, I have learnt about many things like obtaining ISBN’s, copyright jargon, pages, margins, bleeds and binding methods, paper types, text sizes, spine printing directions and publishing locations.
An exciting journey, and very soon, there will be a real book.