30 x 30 cm
Large format
The square format gives photographs, text and cut-out animals plenty of room.
ANIMAL ENCYCLOPEDIA – BOOK PROJECT
The animal world. Page by page.
A large-format animal encyclopedia with my own photographs, individually designed pages, and more than 350 featured animal species.
WHY THIS BOOK?
More than just an animal encyclopedia.
The idea for this book was born from my daughter. I wanted to create a special animal encyclopedia for her – beautifully designed, educational, and full of photographs that not only show animals, but also bring their diversity to life.
Many of these pictures were taken on our excursions together, during which she was present herself. As a result, the book has also become a collection of shared memories over time.
Therefore, this book is dedicated to my daughter.
At the same time, this project brings together many things that have been with me since my own childhood: my enthusiasm for animals, my joy in photography, and the desire to create something of my own from it.
THE CONCEPT
One kind. One side. A story of its own.
The majority of the book dedicates a separate page to each animal species. Photographs, text, facts, and layout each form a small, self-contained unit. This principle is complemented by selected double-page spreads on which several related species are presented together.
350+
Species
From amphibians and birds to big cats, ungulates and marine mammals.
250–300
Pages
Most of the book gives each species its own individually designed page.
1–3
Photographs
Each species page combines different views, details and characteristic moments.
The basic principle is simple: one species, one page. Selected double-page spreads deliberately break with this principle and present several related species together.
DIVERSITY
350+
Species from around the world.
From small amphibians and birds to elephants, big cats and marine mammals, the animal encyclopedia presents a broad variety of forms, lifestyles and representatives of the animal kingdom.
REGIONAL STRUCTURE
Seven regions. Seven color worlds.
The animal species are organized by geographical region. Each region has its own color, creating a recurring orientation system throughout the book.
Africa
Europe
Asia
North America
South America
Australia & Oceania
Poles & Oceans
FROM PHOTOGRAPH TO PAGE
Photography. Design. Book.
All photographs, image editing, cut-outs, and visual design are created in-house. From the first photo to the finished book page, the project thus remains consistently in one hand.
01
ADOBE PHOTOSHOP
Photography & cut-outs
Every photograph in the book is my own. Each image is selected, developed, edited and prepared specifically for its page.
02
ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR
Graphics & elements
Graphic components and supporting elements are created to match the visual language of the book and its different thematic worlds.
03
ADOBE INDESIGN
Layout & typesetting
Photography, text, facts and design are brought together in InDesign to create the finished pages and double-page spreads.
04
TEXT & EDITING
Editorial support
I use AI as a supporting tool for research and editorial text work. The content is checked, revised and adapted to the editorial concept of the book. Before publication, the finished book will also be professionally proofread by a human editor.
THE PATH TO THE FINISHED PAGE
How an animal page comes together.
Photography
The process begins with the photograph – taken in zoos, wildlife parks or while travelling.
Selection & editing
The most suitable images are selected from the available material and carefully developed and edited.
Cut-out
The animals are precisely separated from their original background and prepared for the light book layout.
Text & editing
Information is researched, structured, checked and adapted to the editorial concept.
Layout
In InDesign, photographs, body text, facts and graphic elements are combined into an individual book page.
A LOOK INSIDE THE BOOK
Each page is created individually.
The pages follow a common visual concept but allow enough freedom for the size, shape, and character of each respective animal species to help determine the design.
