«If something is minimal, then it has to be perfect»

Designer Mireille Burkhardt designed the Signature Photo Book by Bubu. As the granddaughter of Bubu founder Albert Burkhardt, she not only carries a love of (photo) books in her genes, but as a designer and owner of a design agency in London she also knows exactly what constitutes good design. We talked to her - about her inspirations, how she photographs and of course about the new photo book.

Mireille, what inspired you when you designed the Signature Photo Book?

All clear: less is more. As a designer, it's important to me: If something is minimal, then it has to be perfect. A clear, focused design. It starts with the open spine and the smooth trim and continues: there is one format, one type of paper, one type of binding. We have also explicitly designed the book in portrait format, as this works very well in combination with the flatbook binding. From the usual two book pages with the fold in the middle, it becomes a large one. So the photos are absolutely in the centre of attention.

What distinguishes the signature layout for you?

In the photo books I create privately, for example with family pictures, I'm always interested in telling a story . I like to build up my photo books chronologically, to bring the pictures into a sequence, to capture situational moods in different photo sequences. So I don't need any more texts in the book. The pictures tell the whole story in all its facets. In order to create dynamics, I vary the page layouts. For example, a double page with many small pictures can be followed by a double page with only one large picture. With the Signature-Layout you can easily apply this yourself.

What do you pay attention to when you take pictures? What is your "secret recipe" for beautiful pictures?

patience and distance. I like natural images that reflect the moment. That's why I observe scenes - for example when my children are playing - from a certain distance and photograph from there with my SLR camera. This usually takes longer and always results in more beautiful pictures for me. For the spontaneous moments in the vicinity, for example at breakfast at the family table, I usually use what is closest at hand, usually the smartphone.

How do you edit your pictures?

As I said, natural looking pictures are important to me. That's why I edit my photos very little, mostly I only brighten the pictures a little, especially when I've photographed faces against the light.

For many people the design of photo books is a nice thing, but not the prior organization of the photos in advance. How do you feel about it?

Exactly (laughs). I save my pictures on Dropbox, so I always have access to the photos, no matter where I am. For a comfortable and time-saving sorting and organizing I haven't found a solution yet. So I would be grateful for tips.

→ You are asked:

Do you have any tips on how to organize photos easily and efficiently and would you like to share them with Mireille and all your other photo friends? Write us - we will publish the best tips in our blog.

You come from a family with a great bookbinding tradition. What is the value of the haptic for you?

Our world is becoming more and more digital and at the same time there is a return to the physical, the perceptible and the experienceable. I notice this also in my professional everyday life. Digital solutions, websites and apps are gaining in importance. Less books are produced, but special attention is paid to them. The design is very important, the printing, the processing. Every detail has to fit. Probably because a "real", handcrafted book has a magic inherent in it that cannot be replaced digitally. That's why photo books, which you can design yourself with your photos, are such a wonderful thing.

Do you have a favorite photographer or designer you would recommend to anyone?

Less a concrete person, but a principle: "If you are stuck in a creative impasse, go back to the origins". In my case these are the classics of Swiss design like Armin Hoffmann or Josef Müller-Brockmann.

How do you inspire yourself in the book/photobook context?

It may sound trite, but quite often in Bindorama by Bubu. Online or on site. There you can admire an incredible variety of exciting book projects.

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