practice makes process in sana asseh's debut product range

enthused by process and fascinated by the diverse range of results different methods can yield, sana asseh has created a series of products — from frames to notepads — as part of a range entitled ‘1/’ (one over). following a year long program with the beirut based collective STARCH, asseh released the first of the series in the summer of 2016, and is currently working on the second installment. by putting the focus on the means rather than the end, asseh finds a method in the madness, and a brilliant madness in the method.

the range was initially the result of a year long residency with beirut-based collective STARCH

entitled ‘1/18’, her first collection examined two commonplace items; the notebook and the picture frame. the form of each object in the collection was dictated by the method used in its creation, a neat inversion of the famous dictum that form follows function. beyond exploration of the possible, sana asseh’s aim was to create a palette of methods, a kind of pantone of making that can serve as a reference, a guide to the assorted book binding and framing techniques that exist in her native lebanon.

asseh was art director at design studio .PSLAB for 12 years

‘1/18 binding’ resulted in the creation of 18 different notepads, each the same size and made of the same paper but bound differently. none opened or folded in the same way, shaping the experience of writing in them. ‘1/18 framing’ resulted in the creation of 18 different frames for a photograph shot by asseh that played on the way photographs are perceived and subverted the primacy of the image.

entitled ‘1/18’, her first collection examined two commonplace items; the notebook and the picture frame.

‘I’ve listed the technique used on the notebooks and on the back of the frames, so if anyone wants to do something the same way, they know what to ask for,’ she says. ‘it’s a useful tool for designers because nothing like this exists anywhere.’ her second collection is still in the process of being completed but the nature of the two objects has been determined: ‘1/12 month’ will be a re-envisaging of the yearly organizer. in place of a single book, 1/12 is divided into 12 monthly booklets. the detachable notebooks are stored away once completed, or kept as a single whole.

the form of each object in the collection was dictated by the method used in its creation

‘1/365 day’ is an ode to the riznama, the simple and ubiquitous lebanese wall calendar that comes with a block of detachable pages, one for each day of the year. once again, users will be able to throw away used pages or store them, as a record of the year. ‘for me, the collections aren’t about creation, they are more about collation,’ she continues. ‘what interests me is the thinking behind the project, rather than the project itself.’ regardless of the size of the project at hand, asseh’s rigorous, research-oriented mind-set, appreciation of process and determination to explore every possible avenue results in a comprehensive, production-oriented approach.

sana asseh’s aim was to create a palette of methods, a kind of pantone of making that can serve as a reference

‘1/ 12 month’ is a re-envisaging of the yearly organizer

bound together, they can be detached but are sold as an attached whole

‘1/18 framing’ explores framing techniques by playing on the way we perceive photographs

the project plays on the way photographs are perceived and subverted the primacy of the image.

as the year progresses, booklets can be separated and filed away for reference

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: peter corboy | designboom