Those who have been paying attention to locally published books in recent years might have discovered a number of exquisite designs done by ‘Something Moon’. The latter is in fact the pseudonym of a young native designer, CK Cheang. A book with delicate design can win readers’admiration, but Cheang prefers, in connection with book design, that‘correctness precedes aesthetics’.
Cheang says, ‘Good book design won’t make its presence known.’He elucidated that unlike artists who can freely express their ideas, book designers have to resolve the ‘conflicts’ between various media, thereby equating the author’s conception with the readers’ response.
Cheang smilingly remarked that he is an economical designer who attempted to reach the best result in a cost–effective manner. In order to achieve the pattern that he wants, Cheang exchanged his views with
printing houses in person. He likened the design of books to cooking: ‘A good chef should know which markets and stores sell the best food ingredients, and would request the store owner to leave the best to him.’
Cheang noted that publishers are mostly working with a subsidy and seldom regard publishing as major business. This results in lack of market and business considerations in general. Publishers hence disparage book design, packaging and marketing. Notwithstanding, book designers enjoy a larger room for creativity. ‘Readers’ interest is well understood in Hong Kong and Taiwanese publishing models, while such a framework is absent in Macao. It is appropriate – and imperative – for the city to experiment in order to convert Macao into a fun place.’ To make reading fun is perhaps the major responsibility of designers.
// He has tried something different in the new book (provided by interviewee).
// The new work is a pop-up book, which is extremely sophisticated in design (provided by interviewee).
