The photobook workshop is an opportunity for photographers and artists interested in developing their own photobooks to understand and work through the steps of taking their existing work into print. Over the two-day intensive workshop, we will explore and discuss concept development, the building of a visual layout, basic typography, cover strategies, and production preparation. The intention of the workshop will be to help develop an initial treatment and approach for each participant's project through collective conversations and dialogue, setting the foundation to eventually work towards a physical dummy or publishing plan.

Through presentations, tutorials, and one-on-one development participants will think deeply about the creative choices behind their intended outcome and apply these approaches to best realise these intentions through both design and materials choices. The presentations will investigate design strategies of contemporary and historical photobooks alike, as well as dig deeper into books designed by Lamotte for practical insight. We’ll discuss and explore everything from lo-fi artists’ zines to highly produced offset-printed and bound photobooks. The workshop will culminate with a group presentation and critique of the participants’ work from Lamotte and Danaé Panchaud, director of Centre de la photographie Genève.

This workshop is reserved for professional artists and photographers who have an existing photographic series, finished or in progress, that they would like to eventually realise in book form. Previous experience with InDesign (or other layout software) is helpful but not required for participation. To take part in the workshop, participants are required to send documentation of the proposed project (a book dummy is not necessary) for validation by Brian Paul Lamotte.

Brian Paul Lamotte is an independent graphic designer and publisher specialising in art and photography books. His process-based practice relies on a close collaboration with artists, editors, and printers, and often emphasises the haptic qualities of print through the use of materials and specialised production.

He has designed and produced books for select publishers, editors, and artists including; Aperture Foundation (Lesley A. Martin), Dashwood Books, Edition Patrick Frey, GOST Books, Hauser & Wirth Publishers, Hatje Cantz, Images Vevey, MACK Books, MAST Foundation (Francesco Zanot), Meta/Books (Delphine Bedel), Rizzoli, Skinnerboox, and SPBH Editions (Self Publish, Be Happy/Bruno Ceschel).

Books he has designed have been shortlisted for the Paris Photo–Aperture Foundation PhotoBook Awards and Rencontres D’arles Book Awards. In 2024, The Last Safe Abortion by Carmen Winant was awarded the Author Book Award at the Rencontres d'Arles Book Awards.

Additionally he teaches at HSLU, University of Applied Sciences and Arts (Lucerne) and NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (Milano) and has preciously conducted bookmaking workshops with the Self Publish, Be Happy (London) and Penumbra Foundation (New York) as well as other cultural institutions.

Image: Carmen Winant, The Last Safe Abortion, SPBH, 2024