A coffee table book in a hardcover slipcase, a master’s thesis in the form of a custom-designed brochure, or a professionally crafted portfolio folder for a competition—no matter the project, every piece created in the Bookbinding Workshop at Folkwang University of the Arts meets the highest standards of quality. In the Introductory Bookbinding Course, students acquire professional-level bookbinding skills in a well-equipped workshop.
Bookbinding Workshop
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From Packaging to Photobooks
All participants in the course produce a high-quality slipcase and fill it with a variety of self-bound works, including leporello books, adhesive-bound brochures, and Japanese-style bindings, as well as a thread-sewn book with hot foil embossing. This course introduces students to a range of binding and packaging techniques, spanning traditional and experimental approaches. In addition to learning essential processing techniques for paper, cardboard, fabric, and more, students receive an introduction to materials, machinery, and tools—all within the cultural history of bookmaking.
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Craft is Design
Graduates of the Introductory Bookbinding Course continue developing their own independent projects, with ongoing professional support and guidance. Rooted in the early 20th-century traditions of craft schools, the Bookbinding Workshop follows a holistic approach that integrates craftsmanship and design. From the initial idea to the finished piece, students learn to leverage bookbinding techniques to achieve their individual artistic and design goals. This process reinforces the inseparable connection between craftsmanship and creative quality.
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A Product for All Senses
A printed and bound book is an analog product that provides a tactile and sensory experience—both in its making and in its reading. In an era dominated by audiovisual stimuli, these physical experiences take on increased significance, engaging readers on multiple sensory levels.
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Contact
Heike Zobel
Head of the Bookbinding Workshop