Biotechnology Research And Information Network AG (BRAIN) is a German biotechnology firm that collects biological compounds into a proprietary archive and then leverages that to create industrial biotech solutions. Their 2016/17 report is a case study in having a good idea but not pushing it far enough.
In this EDA Ward-winning report BRAIN partner with a fascinating contemporary visual artist named Davide Quayola. Quayola works across mediums but is most famous for his deconstructed resin sculptures that he creates using industrial robots. The work is remarkable and a few pieces are featured in the book as are some of his digital sculptures, landscapes and abstracts. The artist’s work fits together nicely with the work BRAIN does and it’s a good visual partnership. It’s a shame the art occupies only a few pages at the start of the report. Woven through the report, used as inspiration for infographics, this collaboration could have resulted in something grander.
Given that BRAIN is partly a manufacturing firm, it makes sense that the report’s design focus is on production rather than graphics. The cover makes use of a delicate spot varnish and on the inside is a lovely bronze ink that is used to good effect.
The report contains three tipped-in booklets at a smaller size than the main book. These are located next to a single sheet of thick card that has a tab cut into it, leading to the next section of the book (also tabbed). Flipping through the book the reader is able to get a quick sense of the contents and find sections of interest.
While this does make navigation easier, you can’t help but wonder if the money spent on these production aspects would not have been better spent on using more of Quayola’s incredible artwork.
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