A book-as-object that stages Joe Lycett’s humour through excess, materiality and mischief.

WINNER, CREATIVE REVIEW ANNUAL AWARD 2025, EDITORIAL DESIGN.

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Developed closely with Lycett, the design extends his irreverent, theatrical practice into print, transforming the book into an object that both participates in and parodies the conventions of luxury publishing. Rather than framing collectability through restraint or refinement, the edition leans into excess – using spectacle, humour and materiality to explore ideas of value, authorship and display.​ At its centre is a system of layered design strategies that balance maximalism with control.

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A maximalist visual system sets the tone: a holographic foil cover, neon silkscreening, ombré edges and a die-cut hole framing Lycett’s face combine into a deliberately attention-seeking object. Inside, seven inserts – from a wine-stained cheque to a pair of cerulean glasses – extend the narrative into physical space, reinforcing the book’s internal logic and blurring the boundary between fiction and reality. A further layer of participatory extras – postcards, stickers and a saddle-stitched, IKEA-inspired zine – invite the reader to act, not just observe. Reading becomes a performance. A custom envelope and foil-stamped sleeve secure the ephemera – balancing spectacle with structure to ensure the chaos remains carefully staged.

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The book resists the solemnity often attached to collectable publishing. Instead, it treats theatre, satire and interaction not as embellishments, but as integral to the form. Every part – from the inserts to the edge finishes – contributes to a complete, choreographed object. Not just a document of Lycett’s work, but an extension of it – loud, generous, and unapologetically silly.

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Artist & Author: Joe Lycett

Art Direction, Design & Layout: Billie Temple & Joe Lycett 

Published by Trapeze (an imprint of Orion Books)

Creative team: Joe Lycett, Billie Temple, Lucy Kane, Aidan Butler, James Kettle and Rhik Samadder.