In October 2012, the Institute for Entrepreneurship at the University of Liechtenstein, in collaboration with the Huber-Hus museum and the “Lech Living Space Initiative” by the Raffeisenbank, presented the cross-border “Bergtee” book project. In February 2013, it has now won an award as part of the “Loveliest books in Austria” competition.
The “Bergtee” book project awarded in the “Reference and scientific books” category
In October 2012, the Institute for Entrepreneurship at the University of Liechtenstein, in collaboration with the Huber-Hus museum and the “Lech Living Space Initiative” by the Raffeisenbank, presented the cross-border “Bergtee” book project. In February 2013, it has now won an award as part of the “Loveliest books in Austria” competition.
The Vorarlberg “Bergtee” initiative preserves local experience and knowledge relating to the collection of wild herbs and turning them into tea. In 2012, the founders documented the project in a book in collaboration with the two scientists Dr. Barbara Fuchs, senior lecturer at the Institute for Entrepreneurship at the University of Liechtenstein, and Susanne Grasser, certified engineer, from the Division of Organic Farming at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna.
The aim of the documentation was to highlight the importance of local experience for society and, at the same time, to spur those with knowledge on to take the initiative and pass their knowledge on to subsequent generations.
On 15 February, the book received an award for design and production quality in the “Reference and scientific books” category of the “Loveliest books in Austria” competition. 224 titles published in 2012 were submitted by 157 publishers and printers. The jury, consisting of 10 experts from printing, bookbinding, typesetting, design, publishing, book sales and media, whittled them down to 15 works in 6 categories. The submissions were judged based on technical, design and conceptional criteria.
International appeal
The award will be presented by Federal Minister Dr. Claudia Schmied as part of a gala event at RadioKulturhaus in Vienna in April.
As one of the loveliest books in Austria, the book will also be presented at international exhibitions such as the Leipzig and Frankfurt Book Fairs, the London Book Fair and BUCH WIEN 2013, and at the “Loveliest Books in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands 2012” exhibition in Vienna in December 2013.
There are also plans to submit it to the “Loveliest books in the world” competition held by Stiftung Buchkunst in Leipzig, and to participate in the “Book Art International” exhibition at the Frankfurt Book Fair.
It’s not a product, it’s a story
The graphics workshop Gassner Redolfi KG from Schlins in Vorarlberg took on the design brief. Reinhard Gassner and Marcella Merholz produced a book without pictorial art or over-the-top descriptions. Instead, they emphasized the different narratives of those involved, economic considerations and authentic picture reports: “With our book design, we have captured the varied styles of speech and levels of narration as an interaction to the typographical appendices – with a deliberate lack of bibliophilic gestures.”
The book has a classic binding with a simple linen cover and dust cover. It is only at the second glance that one discovers that it folds out into a poster with an overview of plant species. “The key statement featured on it provided us with our inspiration in designing the book,” explained the two graphic designers. “Bergtee – it’s not a product, it’s a story.”
Design as best advertising for the content
The design of the book was described by the specialist jury as “wonderfully simple”, with the typography, typesetting and printing praised as clear and user-friendly. “Culinary books – i.e. those that deal with food and drink – tend towards design overload to make them attractive. Bergtee counteracts this with solid inconspicuousness,” reads the jury’s citation. “The arrangement of the photos is secondary to providing appealing information. And the binding paper invites the reader to investigate.”
Further information at www.gassner-redolfi.at or www.schoenstebuecher.at