Naranjo-Etxeberria define the reality of modern life with the unconventional design of ADG.L.2021

The ADG LAUS AWARDS BOOK, designed by Madrid-based Naranjo-Etxeberria, compiles 2021’s best contemporary creative endeavours from the graphic design world. Crafted with concept and artistic expression at its core, the yearbook is designed and curated as a reflection of modern life; accentuating features from both digital and physical spaces across its editorial design, binding and assembly – culminating in a somewhat bewildering yet captivating publication that seeks to define the new reality of the world we inhabit.

As unprecedented as the latter, the publication takes on an atypical format – that Naranjo-Etxeberria has defined as ‘The Magabook’ – where the compendium is split into both a book and a magazine. Designed as an archive, or contemporary timeline, of the work it features, The ADG LAUS AWARDS BOOK translates this concept into the execution of its inner editorial composition. Imbuing the pages with digital and physical references; be it the content running off the page like a digital scroll, or the tactile construction of the monospaced typefaces used.

“We have used monospaced fonts to reinforce the idea of archiving,” Naranjo-Etxeberria explain, utilising the editorial character of Century Schoolbook Mono as the typeface of choice. “It is a project that collects the best design of the year and it must collect technical information from all the winners,” they add, contrasting this with Aperçu Pro Mono, providing a somewhat corporate juxtaposition to its friendlier alternative.

Alongside the reality it inhabits, The ADG LAUS AWARDS BOOK 2021 also finds its inspiration in artistic reference; specifically the work of mid-century conceptual artist On Kawara. Directed not only by the ideas behind his work but also practically influencing the project’s aesthetic, Naranjo-Etxeberria tell us, “the colours we used are inspired in the work ‘DATE PAINTINGS’ (1966-2013),” a work by Kawara. “The use of colours in the book are designed to distinguish the different prizes,” they add, bringing to attention the unconventional format Naranjo-Etxeberria determined for the book; whereby – for the first time – the award’s winning pieces were documented without imagery.

Instead, the work of the 2021’s documented designers is curated on the book’s Instagram feed, which is linked via QR codes within the publication itself. The choice to include the codes was once again made in reference to the reality of the world we live in, where the once previously thought obsolete technology has now become commonplace in a post-COVID world. Bringing the project together is the MAGABOOK ADG LAUS AWARDS 2021 t-shirt, which is designed to complement the set; riffing off not only the notion of commercial or musical merchandising, but also helping mark the book as an event to be experienced.

Naranjo-Etxeberria