A Designer's Research Manual

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A Designer’s Research Manual

C

PROJECT:

A Drawing Manual by

Thomas Eakins

CLIENT:

Philadelphia Museum of Art,

in a joint effort with the

Pennsylvania Academy

INTENDED AUDIENCE:

students, scholars, curators,

and individuals interested in

American art and art education

CREDITS:

Design, Baseman Design

Associates

HISTORY LESSON

When Frank Baseman of Baseman Design Associates got the opportunity to design

and produce a historic volume, he dived in to the nineteenth-century research the

project demanded. In Baseman’s case, looking back in time allowed him to create

the best design possible for a modern book. Baseman’s historic research offers a

fascinating look at a different approach to a set of design challenges.

Staying True to the

Period

The Philadelphia

Museum of Art and the

Pennsylvania Academy

enlisted Baseman to help

publish a book entitled

A Drawing Manual by

Thomas Eakins. Because

Eakins began writing the

book roughly between

1881 and 1885, the

design of the book

needed to refl ect both

the time frame and the

content accurately. Adding to the challenge, Eakin’s book had never been published

but was full of useful tips, diagrams, drawings, and suggestions for advanced study

to accompany his text.

Baseman’s design needed to unite the original manuscript and the original

drawings—together for the fi rst time—in as true a manner as possible to the

author’s original intent.

Baseman’s historic

research offers a

fascinating look at

a different approach

to a set of design

challenges.

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Chapter Four: Case Studies

Right

Primary research conducted

at the American Philosophical

Society library in Philadelphia

gave insight into period

publications. Baseman studied

typeface selections, typographic

treatments, publication size,

printing techniques, and use of

imagery to design the Eakins

book accurately.

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Job no: 8041CTP Title: RP_Designer Research Manual Client: PRO-VISION PTE

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