Each copy of 4,4,4&2 is printed and finished in-house by our small team, following a process that takes time and care. Due to the nature of the disappearing ink used, each copy must be printed to order. We are currently operating with a one month lead time, ensuring every edition carries the attention and craft central to its design. Thank you for your understanding.

A cultural first, 4,4,4&2 is a living, evolving book that mirrors the cognitive changes which can take place during the dementia journey. Mapping the life of Maggie Watson, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia in 2021, the book combines personal artefacts and cherished mementoes in a ‘living cookbook’ printed using an innovative disappearing ink. This mimics the physical degeneration of the brain which can take place during the dementia journey, using publishing as the medium to illustrate and humanise this most personal of experiences.

Our research for this poignant work began in 2020 and 4,4,4&2 marks the culmination of many years’ worth of work to rewrite the story of dementia. At a time when it is the leading cause of death in the UK, mainstream media refuses to share any narrative outside of loss and incapacity. A flattened experience, devoid of potential or promise, is perpetuated – often severely lacking the voice of anyone living with dementia themselves. As public perception remains clouded by fear, stigma and sensationalised headlines, those diagnosed – and those who care for them – are often left feeling voiceless and without agency to affect change. To begin to address this, our work uses creativity to inspire and empower those undertaking their dementia journeys – centring their lived experience and supporting them to share their stories to foster empathy, understanding and meaningful change in how our society views and responds to this condition.

Each copy of 4,4,4&2 is as wholly unique as the individuals we’ve cherished working with throughout this project – warping, fading and transforming over time to mirror the progressive, unpredictable and highly personalised nature of dementia. Rebuking the misconception that individuals themselves fade away following diagnosis, instead 4,4,4&2 mimics the brain itself – revealing and concealing information in a manner never before seen in publishing, mapped to the size of the average human brain. Each copy is printed in-house with disappearing ink and finished by hand by our small team.

Mirroring the memories of a lifelong cook and kitchen visionary, 4,4,4&2 serves as more than a cookbook, personal memento or healthcare support – instead, it presents a call to action. A challenge to see beyond the statistics and the medical jargon, to listen to the voices of those living with dementia and recognise the person behind the diagnosis. We hope the publication will serve as a bridge – connecting lived experience with wider society to ensure a better future for all.

Specifications:
Size: 148 × 210 mm
Pages: 116
Edition: First edition, handmade in Scotland
Printing: Full colour throughout, with select passages printed in disappearing ink
Binding: Ring-bound

Paper Stocks:
Mohawk Option White Vellum
Mohawk Superfine White Eggshell
Munken Pure Smooth Cream
G.F Smith Colorplan Chartreuse
G.F Smith Colorplan Rust
G.F Smith Colorplan Factory Yellow
Fujifilm Supreme

Finishing:
298 × 420 mm chapter poster inserts
105 × 148 mm sayings and diary slips
Printed photographs throughout
Tipped-in photographs and post-it notes
210 × 298 mm fold-out map
105 × 148 mm 4pp insert