V&A buttons
Christine Andres, Matheus Coscia, Aurelia Ferreira, Gabriela Rezende, Andreza Teramoto and Anastasiia Zavalniuk
This 200-page book, conceived as a collaborative role-play between editors and designers, showcases the button collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The editors, acting as curators, provided the content and vision, while the designers brought this concept to visual fruition.
The catalog explores the rich history of buttons, from ornate historical pieces to modern fasteners. Intriguingly, the layouts are playfully invaded by digital buttons, creating a thought-provoking interplay between the physical buttons adorning our clothes and the virtual ones populating our screens.
Blue emerges as a unifying theme throughout the book, serving a dual symbolic purpose. It represents both the color of royalty, reflecting the prestigious nature of many items in the V&A’s collection, and the hue commonly associated with digital interfaces.
This juxtaposition of physical and digital, historical and contemporary, invites readers to consider the evolving role of buttons in our lives. From intricate works of craftsmanship to simple functional objects, from tactile experiences to pixel-perfect designs, the book traces the button’s journey through time and technology. The catalog not only documents a fascinating slice of material culture but also prompts reflection on how seemingly mundane objects can bridge past and present, analog and digital realms. It stands as a testament to the enduring relevance of buttons in both fashion and user interface design.
Imprint / Technical Rider:
Year: 2023
Dimensions: 297 × 210 mm; 200 pages
Production and finishing: Swiss-bound.
Curricular Unit:
Project (1st year)
Supervising Professors:
Eduardo Aires and Cristina Ferreira