Final Layout and Composition

I have chosen to compose the katakana characters in a very simple and minimalist way. This is firstly informed by typical Japanese design being minimal and tidy with no added mess. The other factor that informed this layout is the fact that the aim is to make the book as easy to use for the reader as possible. By keeping amount of detail and info to a bare minimum, this has resulted in a really clear and tidy format. This is then further enhanced by the fact that every page with katakana characters is set out using the same grid and is always found on the right hand page of each double spread. This allows the reader to flick through the book and is able to see all the characters at a quick glance.

For the opposing pages, I have included one image. Some images relating to the characters on opposing pages such as the first example on the left (the image includes one of the characters). Other images are just of my journey around Japan and highlight aspects of the country that I deem interesting. I have tried to match the images with the colour of the chapter as much as I can as this helps opposing pages relate to each other and work as a composition.

body text is also used on a few of the spreads describing something about the photo or location. This is informed by the design of guide books I had a look at for my research. the combination of a translation book with a simple guide book teaches people the alphabet as well as points of interest about the country itself.

The decision to use a large range of different layouts for the left hand side was informed by the fact that each opposing page follows a very strict grid system, making them consistent throughout. Therefore, having different layouts of images helps to relieve the consistency a little and engage the reader, making sure it's not too monotonous to look through. 

For the beginning of each chapter, I've designed a layout that leaves the katakana character right in the centre of the page in large. This making it immediately obvious which chapter they are at. The next focal point is the english letter to the right hand side that is the translation. The readers eye doesn't have to travel far at all to reach the definition.

Below, I've included some info about the Japanese language and its origins. This making the book more informative and interesting.

I have laid it out similar to a dictionary to give it status and importance and to assure the reader that what they're reading is legit and trustworthy. This is the same reason I chose a serif font, this is widely associated with academic journals and books.