Between Books 2025
Art Book Fair
Kunsthalle Düsseldorf
@kunsthalleduesseldorf
We look back on all these special moments and thank everyone who showed up and supported us.
"An exciting, packed three days of books, creative expression and everything in between, Between Books was nothing short of an inspiration. Absolutely hyped to have been a part of it this year and to come across so many curious people and cool projects. Thank you all for making it a success!"
-S
"In 2023, when I was just starting my studies, I experienced the Between Books fair as a visitor. Now, as a third-year student, I had the opportunity to see this event from a completely different perspective. It was an incredible experience and a true paradise for editorial design enthusiasts. I wholeheartedly thank my team for their cooperation and for making these a truly unforgettable few days."
-H
Curation and Supervision
Lai Ping So @somely
Design and Organisation
Hanna Madej @madej.design
Samira Jannat @mii_voi
Shin-Thant Sin @shinnnts_
Marie Warga @createdby.marie
Key Visual Illustration
Samira Jannat @mii_voi
Supported by @design_rhein_waal
Between Books 2025
Art Book Fair
Kunsthalle Düsseldorf
@kunsthalleduesseldorf
We look back on all these special moments and thank everyone who showed up and supported us.
"Really happy to see such strong engagement with our students’ projects and to have had so many interesting conversations with visitors. Being part of an Art Book Fair gave us the opportunity to share some semester projects and connect with new audiences. Big thanks to my wonderful student team, Hanna, Samira, Marie, and Shin, for collaborating on design and organization with me. Looking forward to the next chance to introduce new projects to more people."
-L
Curation and Supervision
Lai Ping So @somely
Design and Organisation
Hanna Madej @madej.design
Samira Jannat @mii_voi
Shin-Thant Sin @shinnnts_
Marie Warga @createdby.marie
Key Visual Illustration
Samira Jannat @mii_voi
Supported by @design_rhein_waal
Between Books 2025
Art Book Fair
Kunsthalle Düsseldorf
@kunsthalleduesseldorf
We look back on all these special moments and thank everyone who showed up and supported us.
"An incredibly inspiring environment, full of talented, passionate and hardworking individuals. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been a part of this and will always cherish the experience.“
-M
"Being part of 15 week beans was such a meaningful experience. It wasn’t just about participation, it was about sharing ideas, and truly connecting. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who stopped by with curiosity, questions, and encouragement. Your presence made the experience unforgettable."
-S
Curation and Supervision
Lai Ping So @somely
Design and Organisation
Hanna Madej @madej.design
Samira Jannat @mii_voi
Shin-Thant Sin @shinnnts_
Marie Warga @createdby.marie
Key Visual Illustration
Samira Jannat @mii_voi
Supported by @design_rhein_waal
“00:00–24:00” by Desiree Zander @desi.gn.seli as part of the SS 25 Design Project “Time”, supervised by Lai Ping So.
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00:00–24:00 is an editorial exploration of the body’s circadian rhythm, designed in A5 format across eight chapters - each representing a three-hour span of the day. The book provides an accessible overview of physiological states, suggested activities, and tips for supporting our natural cycle. Blurred, colorized PET scan visuals symbolize the mystery of brain function, paired with a consistent chapter layout. The introduction, outro, and an “optimal day” section break this rhythm with freer text arrangements. Bound in white linen with a laser-engraved, brain-inspired cover, the book merges scientific insight with tactile design to visualize time’s inner clock.
“What is a Second?” by Anain Shaikh @ainoocheepees as part of the SS 25 Design Project “Time”, supervised by Lai Ping So.
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“What is a Second?” is a poetic editorial design project that explores the fleeting, elusive nature of time’s smallest common unit. Taking a philosophical approach, the work examines the second as history, as discipline, as perception, and as presence. Through lyrical text and unconventional page formats, the design transforms abstract ideas into tangible form—inviting the reader to slow down, reflect, and feel a second rather than simply measure it. It asks whether a second is truly real, or only a fragile threshold between past and future, forever slipping out of reach.
“Through the Lens (22°N, 98°E)”, Shin-Thant Sin’s @anothershinnn bachelor thesis, completed in SS 25 on the theme of “Identity”, supervised by Prof. Nicholas Markwald and Christian Stindl. – Through the Lens (22°N, 98°E) traces Myanmar’s layered identity through its geography, democratic transitions, cultural celebrations, and the unique beauty of its written script. Created by Shin Thant Sin, the project challenges the idea of what a book can be. Instead of remaining bound to flat pages, it unfolds, opens, and moves—becoming part of the story itself. Using a Leporello binding, the book expands like a map, turning reading into wandering. Each unfolding panel invites audiences to explore Myanmar’s history and voices spatially and non-linearly, offering not just documentation but a living journey through memory, place, and identity.
“Time Journal” by Ghazal Panahi as part of the SS 25 Design Project “Time”, supervised by Lai Ping So.
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This curated design bookazine delves into the art and evolution of creative watchmaking, focusing on the timeless tension between form and function. Presented with a luxurious, minimalist layout and enhanced by transparent pages that add depth and tactility, the publication invites readers into a visually engaging journey. From Bauhaus-inspired classics to avant-garde experiments, each section showcases watches as both utilitarian tools and artistic expressions. Through historical context, design analysis, and featured case studies, the bookazine offers a refined exploration of why watches still matter in the digital age. It is a modern tribute to craftsmanship, innovation, and aesthetic purpose.
“The Time Keeper” by Lan Huynh @iamso.lan as part of the SS 25 Design Project “Time”, supervised by Lai Ping So.
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The Time Keeper looks at the Vietnamese market as the heartbeat of daily life, where time is felt through smells, sounds, and gestures. For Vietnamese people, the market is more than trade, it is where mornings begin, where neighbors meet, and where traditions return each season. From the hush of pre-dawn setup to the noisy laughter of bargaining, from the midday slowdown to the festive rhythms of Tết markets, each moment carries memory. This project reflects on the market as a living clock, reminding us that time in Vietnam flows through people, food, and shared rituals.
“We All Struggle” by Daryna Voronina @daryna.designs as part of the SS 25 Design Project “Time”, supervised by Lai Ping So.
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The We All Struggle project is a collection of three booklets talking about addiction and time.
The first, „We All Struggle“, tells stories of people from different eras who all lost years to respective addictions, be it alcohol, television or phones. It shows that the cost of avoiding problems remains the same.
The second, „Why We Struggle“, takes a closer look at phone addiction, explaining how devices are designed to keep us hooked and how they affect our brains and sense of time.
The final booklet, „Let’s Not Struggle Anymore“ helps us reflect on why we reach for our phones in the first place and how dealing with those underlying struggles can help us move past them.
“Where do we go when we fall asleep?” by Jimena Hernandez @yoyostudiio as part of the SS 25 Design Project “Time”, supervised by Lai Ping So.
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“Where Do We Go When We Fall Asleep?” is a book that explores dreams and how we experience time while sleeping. The content is divided into two parts, reflecting the two sides of the brain. The left side of the book presents scientific insights into time perception, supported by diagrams and a clear, traditional layout, mirroring the logical left hemisphere. The right side contains ten stories about personal dream experiences, presented in a more visual and unconventional way, representing the creative right hemisphere. The cover was designed to show the reader’s reflection in a blurred way, similar to how people appear in dreams, offering an immersive entry point before opening the book.
“The Time We...” by Uyen Dao @uri_designs._ as part of the SS 25 Design Project “Time”, supervised by Lai Ping So.
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This experimental publication explores the emotional imprint of time through the lens of love—the time we shared—tracing narratives across the phases of Retrieval, Concurrent, Clarity, Resistance, and Erasure: a diary of what remains after forgetting. Time is approached through the concepts of Felt Time and Erased Time, perceived as an inherently subjective experience voiced through internal monologues. These gather fragments of personal and collective memory, layered with visual metaphors and philosophical reflection. The design reveals how emotional memories are preserved not only in the mind but also in the body—through sensation, rhythm, and pattern. Blue, chosen as the color of memory, reflects both neuroscientific associations and poetic nostalgia.
“After Dinner with the Gods” by Vanda Klestincova @vandaklestincova as part of the SS 25 Design Project “Time”, supervised by Lai Ping So.
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After Dinner With the Gods is an intimate zine about how time feels as we live and consume it. Three meals - breakfast, lunch, and dinner - open as portals into memory: the warmth of childhood mornings, the drag of midday hours, the quiet of fires at night. We are invited to sit at a mythical table with the gods of time: Chronos, Kairos, and Aion. Yet instead of food, we are served fragments of time: memory, myth, and reflection.
