Design Details is a new interview feature focusing on the formal and conceptual design processes of our publishers. For this edition, we asked Michela Zoppi to give us some behind the scenes insights into her work at Action Motion Press:

PKB: Which design choice required the most experimentation to get right?

Michela Zoppi: The form of a book, its shape, weight, proportions, materiality. It is a process of fine-tuning that continues alongside the design – the typesetting and curation of content, until the very end. Sometimes, elements are even changed during production. We believe that agility in thinking and economy of means produce the most interesting results when it comes to design. Challenges that arise from budget constraints often yield unexpected results. 

P: What would be your dream design feature if budget didn’t matter?

M: So far, the economical limitations of a project have never prevented us from experimenting with interesting materials or printing processes. On the contrary, we often perceive "luxury" as wasteful and fundamentally more decorative than functional. If there were room for playful experimentation, we would probably encourage the introduction of smaller-scale processes, such as letterpress or silkscreen. We are often inspired by the past – in the history of communication, design and bookmaking.

P: What's the most extravagant design detail in your publishing career?

M: Our projects always have an Easter egg: poster paper used to print the text for a photobook; tracing paper employed as a dust jacket; a six cover, back cover, and spine design variation for our latest title.

P: What design detail choice have you made that you feel most proud of?

M: We are proud to have initiated an independent publishing project that foregrounds conversations on gender and female perspectives, at a time when the value of smaller realities, independent thought, and craftsmanship is increasingly under threat.

Browse the Action Motion catalogue here.