Laura Tabet
laura.tabet@gmail.com
www.lauratabet.co.uk

Project Summary
A 50 year retrospective book of one of Beirut’s finest interior architect: Michel Harmouch. The book will showcase his architecture, as well as his furniture and interiors. A forward will be written by his partner Jacqueline Harmouch, with whom he has collaborated since the early stages of his career. Moreover, an interview with the artist will cover the most significant moments of his life, his influences and theories about art and design. My aim is to get a prototype of the book made in time for the show and look into getting it published in the UK and Lebanon.

Context
Michel (1923) grew up in Beirut and graduated from the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts Decoratifs in Paris in 1951. The archives of his vast body of work are still available and have yet to be published despite his fame and recognition. His projects include the execution of hotels, villas, residences, offices, banks, restaurants and museums in Lebanon and abroad. This ranges from designing palaces for the king of Jordan to becoming the official worldwide consultant for the Hilton Hotels Group for many years.

Rationale
Potential sponsors and publishers have already shown interest in making a book about Michel Harmouch, and there is no doubt that such a book will be popular in the Middle East. The design will follow an esthetic line that will be directly related to the publication concept. The project relies on effective communication of content through graphic design; to accomplish a unit among the text, the graphic and layout in order to convey the content more efficiently, the production of a strong and contemporary editorial piece, and the potential publishing of the book.

Skills Evidence
Topicality and future projection potential
Demonstrating a professional ability to work with art direction and editorial design, as well as a significant confidence in handling brand and identity.

Intellectual rigour and debate
A heightened level of intellectual rigour will be achieved through the rationale of the execution, ensuring an innovative and contemporary solution to the print based editorial design.

Focus of research and analysis
The treatment will be sympathetic to the origin but directed to a western audience. The final product will create a sensitive balance between both cultures, taking elements from one and introducing them into the other.

Practical skills involved
I will be acting as an editorial designer, which will also include managing and organizing the print and production. Moreover, I will be art directing all the photographs included in the book, which will involve collaboration with a photographer.

Sustainability and Content
The project entails thorough consideration of typography, layout, and art direction, in addition to the print and production of the publication; which will likely be a luxurious book primarily showcasing Michel Harmouch’s architecture and interious as well as the various disciplines of his creative work. Furthermore, the most significant pieces throughout his career will need to be carefully selected, photographed and edited. Some of the text included will be generated from an interview with Michel which I will conduct and edit.

Projection of professional or further research ambitions
It’s an example of the type of work that I would like to get involved in professionally. This project will also help establish contacts in the professional world and the working relationship with a publisher.

Elements of risk and challenge
A response of the highest creative order will be required considering the status of the External Examiner. Another big challenge will be to design a book that will aesthetically please and suit his existing clientele.

Predicated outcomes
Designing, producing and publishing a luxurious book showcasing Michel Harmouch’s architecture and interious as well as the various disciplines of his creative work.

Manufacturing and production issues
The biggest challenge will be getting the product professionally produced and manufactured for the first time, within the given deadline.

Opportunities for professional feedback
There will be opportunities for feedback in my ability to make it ‘live’: my aim is to get the project published and sold, therefore I will primarily be targeting his clientele. Wonderful Editions, based in Lebanon has shown enthusiam for my project and agreed to act as my publisher.