name

thomas pruss (tpruss)

country

germany

university

designschool munich // designschule münchen

department

Communication Design

university address

rossmarkt 15
80331 munich

university country

germany

url

http://www.designschule-muenchen.de

id

0011522

title

„Handbuch für Spione“ (»Handbook for Spies«)

group members

Thomas Pruss

professor(s)

Bernhard Helzel, Peter Schaller

rank

1147

tags

book

year of making

2010

uploaded

2011-01-06 15:32:17

This book parodies the subject of espionage, particularly in its heyday during the Cold War. It deals with the play between information and disinformation. Secret service jargon, for example, is explained to the reader, sometimes with its real meaning, sometimes entirely made-up. Since the whole book is rather absurd and banal, it’s up to the reader to form his own opinion.

The book’s real attraction is its design. It is made with a Japanese binding, meaning the individual pages are folded and closed on the fore margin. Since the edge is perforated, however, the individual sheets serve as secret envelopes whose contents are only revealed when opened. The book likewise plays with materials, e.g., mirrors (chromolux paper) or information that is barely perceptible at first glance (black ink on black cardboard). Ultimately, the book is like espionage itself: conspiratorial, subtile – and totally nuts.