Course program 2024

Course location Ascona

Based on the simple aesthetic of the Japanese wrapping art of “Origata” you will discover the “Reliure Origata”. With the binding technique of Julie Auzillon from France delicate and soft books projects will be created. They consist of one to three layers that are only enforces by glue on the case spine. The layers are simply fixed at the spine with tacking thread. The covers are fixated with woven tapes which at the same time provide simple design element. The technique of „Reliure Origata“ is suitable both for the binding of empty books but also for the protection and conservation of existing book fragments.
At the end of the course you will have your "Reliure Origata" in your hand.

Course location Zurich

Dive into the world of Japanese paper and the art of floating ink, suminagashi, with Florane Gindroz Iseli (https://www.atelierpourlepapier.ch) and Bastien Conus (www.suminagashi.ch / @bababathings).

Suminagashi (墨流し- "flowing ink") is the precursor of all marbled paper practices. After a historical and technical introduction, you will have the opportunity to experiment with different inks and paper types in exchange with others and your own curiosity. In all likelihood, you will also make your own discoveries. In a tub, the ink will be applied to the water surface and then transferred to the paper from which magical creative moments emanate, inviting contemplation and letting go.
At the end of this class, you will take home your very own creation.

An introduction to Japanese paper and its characteristics will help to understand the complexities of this unique material and assist you in its use. The techniques of drying, flattening and gluing/embedding will be covered to enhance your creations. The techniques of drying, flattening and backing (marouflage) and doubling will be covered to enhance your creations.

Course location Ascona

The goal is to make a medieval book in Romanesque style with a clasp. We will split the wooden covers ourselves and plane them by hand to the desired thickness. Using a drawknife, we will trim the book block to its final size - to rediscover real cutting marks as they were 1000 years ago. We'll learn one of the early stitching techniques, create historical capitals, and practice using tools of the time. We follow the technical traces of the medieval bookbinders and work as historically as possible.

Course location Zurich

Your projects, your works of art, your drawings should be presented and/or archived in a suitable way.

In our workshop you will be able to create folders and portfolios according to your personal needs using different techniques and materials from the bookbinding workshop. You will learn about the properties of paper, cardboard, woven materials, glues and the suitable ways of working with them. 

Course location Zurich

Dive into the world of suminagashi with Bastien Conus (www.suminagashi.ch / @bababathings).

Suminagashi (墨流し- "flowing ink") is the precursor of all marbled paper practices. After a historical and technical introduction, you will have the opportunity to experiment with different inks and paper types in exchange with others and your own curiosity. In all likelihood, you will also make your own discoveries. In a tub, the ink will be applied to the water surface and then transferred to the paper from which magical creative moments emanate, inviting contemplation and letting go.
At the end of this class, you will take home your very own creation.

Course location Ascona

The Bambalina Technique, conceived by Susana Domínguez Martín, is a technique akin to limp bindings, in which the spine of the book block undergoes some minimal intervention to bind it. This structure can be described as a ‘sliding spine’ binding, as it describes what the spine does when we open the book.
The Bambalina can be executed in a variety of ways, from quite simple to more complex, depending on the level of finish we want it to have. This course also provides students with the possibility to explore some non-conventional materials such as Tyvek, copper sheets, printed acetates, stone paper, wood veneer, etc.
The students will make three Bambalinas, each one with an increasing level of difficulty. For one variant, a spine made of copper is to be used.

Course location Ascona

In this course, we will learn about both stubs and meeting guards and the different uses of them. Historically they have served a functional purpose, but nowadays they can also play an important decorative role in contemporary bookbinding. The course will focus first on stubs and meeting guards for single sheets, and then on stubs for gatherings.
After having made a sample of each of the uses, the students will make two bindings:
- an oriental stubbed binding
- and a western style block, rounded spine, sewn onto stubs.

Course location Ascona

In this class, we'll delve into the creative possibilities of tessellation and experience the transformation of the paper sheet into two- and three-dimensional paper sculptures. There will be an introduction to different folding techniques, and we will work with different papers and materials.
We will explore some techniques that Nadine Werner has developed and make samples that let us see how the folding structures can be used functionally - thus completing the transition from the fascinating art form to the practical design of books or packaging.
At the end of the week, we will move into the experimental phase where we will develop our own design ideas.

Course location Ascona

This course is intended to offer participants the opportunity to critically review and discuss various techniques and their approaches in book and paper conservation as well as in exhibition related work. It is meant to be an overview of well-known and innovative conservation techniques, which will be demonstrated and reviewed by the participants. Furthermore, there will be ample time for discussions and suggestions. Topics covered include attaching loose boards, rebacking materials, alum-tawed parchment as a repair material, tips for paper repairs, using cast pulp paper in paper conservation, ideas how to mount books for exhibition displays, and other helpful tips.
This course is best suited for participants with prior knowledge in book and paper conservation.

Course location Ascona

Additional course, due to high request!

Due to high demand, we have decided together with the course instructor to offer the course "Practical Approaches in Book and Paper Conservation" twice.
If you are unable to attend the course from 22nd - 26th July 2024, please take the opportunity to attend the same course one week later. We look forward to your registration!
Course topic and course photos, see course no. 20.

Course location Ascona

Design + Conservation

The UH structure requires a case binding construction with fine finishing details, combining design and conservation concepts along the process construction.
For this purpose, a full leather textured cover (hardcover) with rounded spine and Japanese paper as endpapers is used.
For the sewing construction, we are going to use reversible stubs, a technical element that works for the conservation of the books and its connection to the binding along the time. 
On this structure the endpapers have a particular construction to work with very thin papers playing with possible transparencies, colours and textures, using this part of the construction as a beautiful way to get into the book. Conservation, design, and technology of the materials works for the structure to provide a perfect opening of the book.
Along each process of creating the binding we will learn about the different qualities of the materials, as well as the various adhesives and their properties. In addition, we will examine which tool can be used for which construction.

In this course we will work with the following book, which was printed by Ediciones Urania: Ral Veroni - "The Princess" with an original illustration by Ral Veroni.
The illustration of Ral Veroni is printed on the cover, making each copy a unique book.
More information: https://photos.app.goo.gl/SbPtXn9EVezJdGwJA

Course location Ascona

Learn to make a multitude of different folded and folded-cut pleats, to create beautiful, unusual and practical flat surfaces, bas-relief surfaces and 3-D forms. The uses for these fold-cut concepts are limitless, including 3-D books, artists' books and more.
Over 3-days, you will make more than 40 different pleated examples. Together, they will build into a comprehensive library of ideas for later personal exploration. A variety of different papers and cards will be used.
Master manipulator and expert teacher Paul Jackson will guide you clearly through the folding, allowing time for experimentation. 

 

Course location Ascona

This fascinating course will introduce you to many ways in which paper and card can be cut, folded, joined, locked, assembled to create simple 3-D forms that will collapse flat for storage, then erect into 3-D for display.  Many 'Wow!' moments are guaranteed, as these extraordinary constructions transform as if by magic, before your eyes!  You will learn many different transformational concepts, many of which are elegant and simple.
Paul regularly teaches these amazing collapsibles to students of design, who describe them as his 'most fun' workshops.

 

Course location Ascona

In this course we create a half leather binding according to the technique of Jean de Gonet. The finished binding displays a visible stitching with the covers being independent from the book block. There is a wide selection of choice in the cover material, which makes it possible to respond to participants wishes. Special woven tapes modelled on the assyrian style will be provided by the lecturer and they are ideally suited to the technique used but are also a visible characteristic design element.

Course location Zurich

For the artful storage of photos, post cards, drawing, documents, jewellery or other cherished objects.

In this course you will learn how to manufacture a beautiful purpose-built box step by step. 
You will cut the individual pieces from cardboard in the desired sizes, build it together
and cover it with woven book binding material (canvas) and/or colourful hand printed papers from all over the world.
At the end of the course, you will be able to take home a unique artefact.

Course location Ascona

Boxes - round - square - rectangular - spheric - rounded – with inner box – with internal compartments – with slip lid – with folding lid – with a collar – with paper – with woven material – with leather – in one colour - multicoloured - fitting.

The manufacturing of boxes offers a huge potential for individual design ideas. Apart from the classic variations with inner compartments and divisions this course will look into advanced possibilities of boxes. So, it’s possible to experiment with round or curved boxes, special lids and unusual shapes.
Materials that are used for the outer design such as paper, woven material and especially leather allow for interesting design statements.
At the end of the course you will take home unique boxes.

Course location Ascona

This course demonstrates the rational handicraft production of creased book cassettes. The participants will make one to three samples in the format up to DIN A4+.
With the help of a formula, the decisive dimensions and blanks are calculated in a short time and cut in sequence.
The composite and creased variants of the clamshell box are demonstrated. The boxes are covered in fabric and paper. The title design is done in hot foil stamping.

Bernhard Sanders uses commissioned examples to show numerous uses and varieties of book cassettes/clamshell boxes.
Profitable craft for numerous commissioned works from architecture, art and business.
The survival kit for small business owners.

Course location Zurich

In this course, handwritten sheets will be bound in Carolingian-Romanesque style. We will deal with the early sewing technique and book decoration and make our own book clasps. Those who have not written their own book will be given paper sheets that can be bound into the wooden cover binding. If you bring your own sheets, the folded size should not exceed A5. The course fee includes two wooden covers, leather and brass.

Course location Ascona

With this elaborated and refined technique, the construction of the book becomes a fine work of art. Variations of endpapers, pressing on deep fold, graphite and gold edge decoration, hand stitched endbands, leather working, and leather joints are topics that will be treated in this course. Special attention will be given to the treatment of the leather.
At the end of the course you will have created a Full Leather French Binding.

Course location Zurich

In this course the focus is on constructing a figure, the proportions of the body and the formal language of the figures, facial expressions, hand positions, posture, etc. How do I bring a figure to life? And how do I let them experience adventures? We deal with the question: How can you create tension in a small image? Constructing perspective and the magic of Photoshop is another part of the course content.
We develop a storyboard, discuss the structure of a comic page, the implementation up to the coloring. Important prerequisites are the optimal paper and the right writing tools. Modern tools like Laptop and Photoshop expand our possibilities to correct and design.