CHANDRA PHENPIMON


Stochasticity


DURATION
3 weeks, Fall 2024
ADVISOR
Megan Irwin 
PROJECT SCOPEBook Design
Randomness. Chaos. Absolute nonsense. Based on a podcast episode by Radiolab of the same name, this book is designed as a reading experience that changes each time. It has no set starting point and allows every page to be shuffled thanks to its unique disc binding.

All images in this book were chosen from a random noun generator, resulting in delightfully absurd imagery, from jello to a sheep with sunglasses. Photographic pairings like the moon and cheese feel arbitrary at first but begin to form humorous, poetic connections. I even swapped a couple sheets of white paper for colored stock during printing, adding another layer of unpredictability.

Each of the eight sections embraces a different form of chaos. For example, the lottery section features scratch-off sticker pages, shifting authorship from the designer to the reader, while the basketball section is printed on semicircle pages with type that curves and bounces around.

The text changes direction, and playful images interrupt the interviews. Every page has hidden surprises (including a photo of myself!). This book was an exercise in controlled disruption. It challenges traditional book design with overlapping text, irregular page shapes, and no fixed reading order. Ultimately, I learned how to embrace chaos while still crafting something cohesive and how to let surprise be part of the storytelling.

View the full process
Listen to the podcast

INITIAL SECTION SKETCHES AND PLANNING
SECTION 3 (COIN TOSS) WITH UPSIDE DOWN TYPE PRINTED ON SILVER PAPER
SECTION 4 (BASKETBALL) OVERLAID ON SECTION 6 (SLOTS)
SECTION 4 (LOTTERY) PRINTED ON SILVER SCRATCH OFF STICKER PAPER (COIN INCLUDED)
DURING PRINTING, I SWAPPED IN COLORED PAPER FOR A FEW WHITE SHEETS, RESULTING IN RANDOM PRINTED PAGES.
SHORT SHEETS IN SECTION 3 (COIN TOSS)

©2025