Lopezlab Amsterdam.
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Cancer Centre Amsterdam

Making Cancer Research Accessible

A publication about the coming into being of the Cancer Centre Amsterdam - the only hospital in Holland fully funded by private initiative.

Cream book cover with the title BoB, a red crab and red ribbons hanging from the bottom
Spread opener with the blue and red facade of the VUmc building against a sky and a large RG initial

We were commissioned to develop this publication that both honours this ambitious endeavor and at the same time gives insight into the life and career of its founder: doctor Bob Pinedo. As a publication, we needed to show how such an enormous initiative comes to life by reflecting on the different aspects that lead to it’s making. One aspect of the publication gave insight into the life of Dr Pinedo with interviews of people in his life, to show how the motivation of just one person can lead to such a large endeavour. The other aspects reflected on the building itself, on how it was developed. Special chapters on fundraising in the private sector on such a big scale were included. Along with the use of an enormous photographic archive, the textual features of scientific articles, testimonials, and quotes of Pinedo’s colleagues, family members, and hospital staff, add to the kaleidoscopic framework of the book. All these different elements were brought together in a magazine-like structure to increase accessibility.

Book spread with a large MO initial and a red page of a collage with newspaper clippings and a boy's portrait
Four book spreads with dense text, an RP chapter initial and old black-and-white photo albums
Four book spreads with red pull quotes, an IN chapter initial, letters on green paper and a nurse in a hospital room
Book spread with a red and blue facade photo on the left and a large FR initial with text on the right

The book is of a handy format, with delicate printing techniques, special paper, and has an endearing red crab embossed on the cover. Ten red ribbon markers were added to the book, representing the 10 arms of the crab. Through these poetic tricks, structural and smart storytelling, the publication was an instant success and was sold out in the very first week of its release. The essence of this book, in form as well as content, is all about how passion and dreams, can grow into tangible reality.

Collage of hospital staff: a lab worker, a researcher at a microscope and a nurse tending a patient
Book page with a red L1 learner sign, a hospital room photo and the red script quote 'Lastige artsen houden hun patiënten het langst in leven'
Surgeons in green gowns and caps operating on a patient, shown as a photo on a book page
Close-up of the closed BoB book showing the red crab on the cover and red ribbons spilling from the pages

Credits

client: Cancer center Amsterdam / project initiative: Bureau Sprit / concept and book ontwerp: Mariola López Mariño, Lopezlab Amsterdam / text: Saskia van Basten Batenburg, Dries van de Beek, Theo Wagener / printing: Flevodruk Harderwijk