Zeer zeldzame catalogus bij rondreizende tentoonstelling in China (een jaar lang). In Engels en Chinees!

In een goede staat, met wat gebruiksspoortjes (Zie svp ook de foto's voorde staat), waaronder de pagina's waar het vastgehouden wordt door de strappband! Maar 1 gekleurd introblaadje van 1 van de grafisch ontwerpers (In dit geval "Wildplakken") ontbreekt! sommige (oa de eerste) pagina's een beetje lossig, maar verder wel compleet! Sowieso een vreemde (of ingenieuze) binding, namelijk losbladig in omslag, maar bij elkaar gehouden met strappband.. waarbij ik mij afvraag of die band nu goed vastzit, of dat er een mechanisch onderdeeltje aan mist. Maar de binding is dus ook onderdeel van het design van dit project!

Graphic Happiness is a triple award-winning project consisting of a bilingual publication and traveling exhibition on 100 years of Dutch graphic design. The exhibit ran in China for a year from end 2012, celebrating the work of over 60 designers and studios both past and present – such as Dick Bruna, Wim Crouwel, Anthon Beeke, Theo van Doesburg, Total Design, Irma Boom and Trapped in Suburbia. The book is bound by a single strap (red, white or blue, with reference to the Dutch flag). The same straps are used to assemble the exhibition furniture (flatpack design).

Graphic Happiness consists of a publication, traveling exhibition and educational programme covering 100 years of Dutch graphic design. Travelling through China the exhibition showed work of over 60 designers highlighting their love of design.

A key part of the exhibition is the ball pit, which symbolises that the Netherlands lies below sea level. Due to the historic struggle with water, the Dutch had to be extremely inventive for hundreds of centuries. They had to design their environment in order to survive. From this necessity comes the Dutch theory that everything can be designed and forms the base to the distinctive, playful and clear Dutch design that is world-renowned. Each blue ball shows a portrait of a legendary Dutch designer or one of their designs so you can literally dive into Dutch design history.

The exhibition shows the work of over 60 designers and shows their love and passion for graphic design. Design is what makes these designers happy. It also bring the two countries, China and the Netherlands together, in an exchange of design knowledge and culture.

Based on the Chinese symbol of ‘double happiness’ and the Dutch flag (red, white and blue) the logo symbolises the two countries uniting in design. The logo is divided and produced as three different straps, which hold together the exhibition furniture and bind the publication. The logo is literally and metaphorically the binding factor in the whole design.

The flat pack furniture construction in combination with the strap fixtures provided an easily assembled solution for a travelling exhibit.