Dos-à-dos
PRODUCT DESIGN
A minimal bookshelf that blends form and function to make its contents more easily accessible.
Individual project
Design Intent
My challenge was to create a bookshelf that both enhances the storage experience and adds a unique furniture piece to a home or office.
Key Skills
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Sketching
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Physical prototyping/iterating
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Illustrating using Adobe Illustrator
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3D modeling using Rhinoceros 3D
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Materials rendering using Keyshot
What is Dos-à-dos?
Dos-à-dos (pronounced doe-za-doe) is an old bookbinding technique where two books are bound together, sharing the same back cover. The name is French, meaning "back-to-back" and these types of books were most commonly found in 17th century England where the New Testament of the Bible and the book of Psalms would be bound together.
As I was exploring different forms for this bookshelf, the symmetry and "Z" shape brought the Dos-à-dos bookbinding to mind and hence the name.
Features
Photo credits:
https://makinghandmadebooks.blogspot.com/2015/05/instructions-hard-cover-for-dos-dos.html
http://www.amusingplanet.com/2017/10/medieval-dos-dos-book-bindings.html
Tilt
The shelves are tilted upward for greater visibility and convenient access to the contents.
Bookends
Weighted cubes add both style and functionality. The height matches the backing, creating a seamless silhouette.
Ledge
A ledge on top creates a resting place for books and completes symmetry with the base of the shelf.
Color, Materials, Finish
Walnut
Copper
Teak
Marble
White paint
Granite
Dimensions
In Context
Inspiration
Inspiration mainly informed shelf design and considering how books would interact on a tilted shelf.
Prototyping
I started with a concept for a multi-functional office storage unit. A quick prototype showed that the idea needed more focus.
1
In trying to break the rigidity of rectilinear dimensions, I played with tilting the storage unit and discovered it added energy and functional value.
2
I simplified both the function and the aesthetics to focus on book storage.
Further refinement focused on the side support, base, and top ledge.
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4
5
In the final iteration, I did away with the side supports altogether, highlighting the intersection of the boxes. The base was shortened to create a bolder shadow and give the shelf the illusion of floating. The top ledge was shortened to complete the symmetry.
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