Manufacturing Science and Engineering Presented at the 1998 Asme International Mechanical En... Book

This review is adapted from a longer one at my blog liberal sprinkles



There are plenty of examples in this book of creations crafted from paper - some of them mundane, others fascinating. What makes it different from other books on papercrafts is the descriptions of the process behind the designs. The book's aim is to show the possibilities of paper. It does so by showing how some graphic designers translate their thoughts and intentions through paper engineering, transforming paper from a 2D sheet into a 3D, interactive item that demands the reader get involved in and experience the work.

Paper Engineering got me looking at paper as a much more complex material, and at paper products as more than just beautiful creations, however innovatively or commonly they are manipulated into their final forms. The book examines various graphic design formats like brochures, books and invites, and looks at works engineered by folding, cutting, gluing to create pop-ups and different binding methods.

I liked the variety of examples (format, form and shape) and the descriptions accompanying each item - why the designers approached the project they way they did and how they did it. The book also profiles four paper engineers - British artist Rob Ryan, book designer Ron van der Meer (known for pop-up books), visual artist Kate Farley and book artist Ed Hutchins. And a bonus: a few templates are included at the back of the book so we can attempt to recreate some of the pieces.

There are other books with more - and more varied - examples of papercrafting. But if you're interested in the design aspect, Paper Engineering is a very good read.