SILVER WAS THE FUTURE
Book Design, Senior Thesis
Silver Was the Future: The Mechanics of Andy Warhol’s Factory is a visual translation of Caroline Jones’ research comparing Warhol’s Factory to a traditional factory. The physical location and the symbolic name of Warhol's studio were representative of a shift in what it meant to be an artist in America. Warhol's work was characterized by consumerism, in terms of both process and subject matter, and removal of the artist's hand. The visual language focuses on industrialism and mass production, with a bookbinding method that references Fortunato Depero’s Bolted Book and Knoll Group’s Knoll Celebrates 75 years of Bauhaus Design.
Typography
The typefaces used throughout this book reference the IBM Selectric typewriters used in the Factory for transcribing tapes. The electrophotographic and digitally manipulated typography serves as a nod to Warhol's Xerox Progressions and his connection to hand lettering as a commercial artist.
Silkscreen
A significant portion of this book was screen-printed by hand to underscore the mechanics of Warhol's artistic process. Images of The Factory and its Superstars were printed in translucent silver ink, overlapping photographs of twentieth-century factories and their workers. Xerox-manipulated typography was also printed on silver stock throughout.
Student Project. Not meant for publication or commercial use.
