This is Research/Process work for the Gibraltar Factbook. Below are different layouts and texture moodboards based off of the overall calm aesthetic, and keeping in mind the Gibraltar Brand Guidelines. This will be 16 pages plus a table of contents and front and back cover. To see more research/inspiration see my Pinterest board.  

These are some sketches of potential grids that I will use for the book. 

These are the final grids for my book. The last two were used the most. 

These are the rough layouts for each spread within the book. The Information about Gibraltar is provided by the World Factbook. I began by sketching out the layouts on index cards based on the grids designed above. I chose to use index cards so that I could easily move the spreads for each subject around, or redesign the whole spread more quickly and easily than a drawing in a sketchbook. After sketching these out, I quickly realized that I would need to double the number of pages I previously expected, to 36. 

My first rough version, translation the sketches into a digital format, and adding appropriate copy/images. Most of the images are low res place holders, dropped in to quickly show the general idea. This draft sticks closely to the Branding guidelines that I created earlier. I knew that I would have to play more with the grids, and the sizes of the headings. I also needed to add more refined data visualizations and graphs to show the statistics of the county. I also felt that the photos lacked a sophisticated quality that I was aiming for. 

A 2nd draft including higher resolution photos, and more refined statistics. Many of the photos are being repeated at this point, while I search for more images that are large enough, and give me permission to use them.  A gradient was added to many elements to give a softer, more mature feeling. I began to pull specific quotes out and stylize them more. I try to incorporate the horizontal lines from the logo into the design elements, and include many pictures of the beautiful scenery.

This is where I really started to employ the use of various styles as well. An object style was created for all the gradients, based on their direction. I began to breathe out the body copy, and I used charachter 

This is my third and final version of the factbook. I enlarged many of the images, stretching them across the entire page. Before, there were strange amounts of white space left on the pages, that didn't fit with soft, calm, mature feeling I was trying to evoke. I added 2 more simple grids to help center certain items on the pages. Many columns are justified to look cleaner, and a few pages were added to allow certain subject more room. I added a cover page that connects with the image on the inside of the front cover, so there wasn't an abrupt jump into the table of contents. 

Many of the headings were given gradient fades to mimic the softness in the photographs. Some paragraphs were also bolded to add interest and emphasis within the body copy. The images were updated and some were replaced with different images to avoid repetition within the book. The headings were added to every page, even if they were in the same over arching section, to increase the clarity and organization of the book for the readers.

I also made the Logo on the cover white, to better reflect the bright, beachy feeling of the country. (Bottom)  

You can see the finished version of this book on the Gibraltar World Factbook Project Page.