The Shape of Design

The Shape of Design is a book by Frank Chimero. Anyone that knows Chimero’s work will be aware that he is a fantastic designer, and the illustrations and treatment look fantastic. But what is more interesting is the way that it’s made available: while there’s a (now sold out) print book and an ebook (both reasonably priced) there is also a beautifully designed—and free—html version.

I think that Chimero is betting on people still wanting, and being prepared to pay for, a physical book or offline/portable ebook, particularly when they know that the objects have had enough design attention paid to them to make them worth owning in their own right.