form and function

A good read on the distinction between definite and formless content for books. Also touches on how content should be designed for a device like the iPad. Photobooks strike me as often really just formless content - a sequence of images with no real design or layout happening. In fact, often the idea of design around the photographs is rejected as getting in the way or trying to make up for poor images. In that respect, the iPad and similar devices may be a better home for photobooks than the printed page. Potentially (eventually) better dynamic range, reproduction accuracy, colour control. If the original images are digital, then we'd also avoid the one step removed distance of trying to print the images too. Lots of half-formed thoughts swirling around in my head on this topic.