SOLO - Grafikmagazin

When it was still possible to travel freely, graphic designer Nikolai Dobreff fled to South America to escape a lost love, redundancy and house hunting. There he was truly alone for the first time and used this experience as the basis for a self-published photo book.

Love gone, job gone, apartment gone

Sometimes the devastating news and seemingly hopeless situations also have a positive side: they force you to take a close look at your life. Or open up completely new paths, as the designer Nikolai Dobreff experienced: heartbroken by a break-up and redundancy, he set off for South America. As the title of his book "SOLO", written after the trip, suggests: completely alone. Along the way, Dobreff collected travel impressions in the form of numerous photographs from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Bolivia. But he also kept a meticulous diary, and so in addition to 70 impressive pictures, "SOLO" also contains ten personal stories about traveling alone.

A creative outlet

When asked whether this trip alone has changed or shaped him not only personally, but also as a creative, he answers firmly: "Being on the road alone for a few months has mainly shaped me as a person - I wouldn't say changed me - which in turn includes and influences my creative side. I rely more on my inner gut feeling in many decisions and have certainly become more self-confident as a result of being on my own - also in my design."

He reports that the project has brought him forward single-handedly, especially in terms of his photography and writing. Without a client, without anyone to interfere, he naturally had a completely free hand with this publication. "I came to graphic design via photography and writing and rediscovered both disciplines on my journey after a long time," says Nikolai Dobreff. "That also fits in with my first point: solo travel helps you to focus on your strengths. So a clear recommendation!"

Small circulation, great appreciation

In terms of production, "SOLO" has a few tricks up its sleeve that make it particularly valuable. The open thread stitching with multicolor thread looks absolutely right for such a personal project, while the Swiss brochure gives the whole thing a firm hold. "I had the book produced by the Grammblich offset printing company. They have an online configurator with great features. After an initial inquiry, you are in contact with the producers and can discuss individual questions or requests," says the designer.

For the paper, he opted for Munken Extra Rough and Munken Lynx, plus transparent hot foil stamping on the cover. "A high-quality production was important to me right from the start, but at the same time I had to keep an eye on the costs, as I am producing and publishing the book myself for the time being - both worked out quite well." The print run for "SOLO" is 100 copies, so anyone interested in the travel photography-meets-love-sickness book should act quickly.