Irma Boom - Manifesto for the book

“I hate artists’ books. I hate it, I hate it. I think “artists’ books,” then I think of a print run of one or two. My books are all industrially made. What you see is that the book is not simply a book; it’s also an object. That’s what makes it special. But an artist’s book I associate with handmade things, and my books are never handmade. I think a book has to be industrially made, because that’s the whole idea of a book: to spread information. That’s what interesting about it. And artists’ books—to me that’s not a book. That’s a piece of art.”

—	Irma Boom (Interview by Michael Silverberg, printmag.com)

Irma Boom is amongst the most remarkable and original designer. She brings the single mindedness and absolute dedication to her craft – mostly book design – that characterizes all great designers. She makes things with her hands and by using the tools and techniques of her trade. As she says: ‘My books are all industrially made. What you see is that the book is not simply a book; it’s also an object. That’s what makes it special.’ This is true that any of her books is this simple complex beautiful thing. 
She flips through the pages, one by one, up and down the book again and again as she tells the why and how of them. I felt moved as she was doing so. Her turning the pages was very passionate and familiar, showing her physical connection to her work. All the books looked like used books because she uses them for their purpose. Definitely, how sad must be those books that are condemned to be on a shelf their whole life through! As in Toy Story, where the worst fear for a toy is never to be played with. 
Irma was saying that ‘time is the most important thing we have’ - so true! That is why she does not waste it making books she does not like. She was telling a proper, human story, not only showing work as some speakers do. She said ‘If you print something that costs so much money — it should be right!’ She may do what she wants, but she is also demanding much from herself. Then she went on describing how, when she starts working on a book, she first makes a material model, she produces the thing, with real paper and real size. She was really explaining her process, how she felt, what her purpose was: this is quite uncommon.