Leaves of Grass – Hand bound book (Student Project)

Designer: Elsa Ophelia
Author: Walt Whitman
Project Type: Student Project
School: Pratt Institute
Course: Typography
Tutor: Cindiana Koren
Location: Utica, NY
Packaging Contents: Book
Packaging Materials: Birch & walnut wood, paper, string

This is a hand bound book I created in my typography class at Pratt Institute. The cover is hand-cut with two layers: the bottom is birch and the top is walnut wood. Text by Walt Whitman with excerpts from Leaves of Grass and typeface Mrs. Eaves XL.

What’s Unique?
This book creates a visual and physical response that parallels Whitman’s organic poems. The feeling of touching the wood and hand-cut textures enliven a connection to the Earth which strengthens the experience of reading his words.