Irma Boom

Irma Boom, commonly referred to as the ​“Queen of Books,” is a book maker based in Amsterdam. She redefines the boundaries of book design with her bold, experimental approach. Educated in fine art and graphic design at AKI Art Academy, Boom began her career at the Dutch Government Publishing and Printing Office before founding Irma Boom Office in 1991. With a portfolio of over 500 books, she seamlessly blends design and editorial work, challenging traditional conventions in both physical form and printed content. Notable among her projects is the 2136-page SHV Thing Book, a monumental work published in English and Chinese.

Boom makes use of various fabrication processes in her printed material such as embossing and die cuts. In her commissioned book for Chanel, Boom printed an entire 300 page book devoid of ink, using instead embossed text and image to create a semi-invisible narrative of Gabrielle ​“Coco” Chanel. Scent is another unusual feature Boom has utilized in her book design. Her conceptual book design for The Road Not Taken has 718 pages printed using ink mixed with a base of beef bouillon. Coffee filter paper is another material choice she has used. 

Boom’s innovative designs have earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Gutenberg Prize, making her the youngest ever laureate. Her works are part of permanent collections at institutions such as MoMA in New York, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Her complete oeuvre and archive are preserved in the Special Collections of the University of Amsterdam, known as the living Archive. In 2014 Boom received the Johannes Vermeer Award (the Dutch state prize for the arts) from the Minister of Education, Culture and Science. The jury unanimously awarded Boom for her unparalleled achievements in the field of graphic design. Boom is an honorary Doctor of the Royal College of Art in London for her inexhaustible contribution to the book.

Presented in partnership with Design Core Detroit, the U‑M Library, and the Ann Arbor District Library. This project was made possible by a grant from the Arts Initiative at the University of Michigan.

Series presenting partners: Detroit PBS and PBS Books. Media partner: Michigan Radio.