Print Provocateur

Print Provocateur is an experimental booklet inspired by the celebrated Dutch graphic designer Irma Boom, often referred to as a sovereign of the book form and a provocateur of print and procedure. This project draws directly from Boom’s conceptual and physical design processes, particularly her relentless prototyping and bold structural experimentation.

The hand stitched booklet explores the CMYK print process not just as a technical system, but as a visual language. Every image is treated with layered CMYK effects, creating a textured, process-forward aesthetic. The only exception is imagery of Boom herself, rendered in stark greyscale to emphasize her iconic presence.

Structure became the driving force behind the experience. Folding pages break the traditional reading flow and invite a more tactile, exploratory interaction—echoing Boom’s own belief that books should be activated by the reader. Typographic choices follow her influence as well, combining bold sans serif headings with thoughtful serif text treatments to create rhythm and contrast throughout.

The result is a piece that straddles homage and experimentation, challenging conventional book design while celebrating one of its most boundary-pushing figures.

Awarded First Place in the 56th Annual Juried Exhibition at UNC Charlotte by guest juror Marta Kubiak.