The graphic novel tends to be judged as a work of literature, yet it is created through a design process and produced in book form. This research sets out to show how graphic novels address many graphic design challenges, with reference to autobiographic graphic novels.
The Graphic Novel Page and the Design of Time. MA dissertation (Distinction)
Read in full on Researchgate. As of 2025, this paper has been read by close to 150 students and researchers.
Abstract
While the graphic novel tends to be judged as a work of literature, it originates as a piece of design in book form. It is the techniques with which graphic novels articulate time on the page which is the focus of this research. The graphic novels selected are from the sub-genre of (auto)biography, published since 2000 in the UK or US. Narrative in the chosen graphic novels is built on memories and research into real lives. The anchoring of traumatic personal experiences within a factual framework requires a particularly nuanced handling of time. Graphic novels are products of interconnected relationships. Panels are read individually, yet simultaneously the design of the page has an impact on the reader. The relationship between elements within the panel and across the page influence the reading pace. Narrative push accelerates the reader through the story while visual pull increases dwell time in which to absorb the details. How push-pull works is analysed within the panel, and in relationships between panels at strip, spread and page level. The articulation of images, text and layout results in nuanced and complex pacing. Book design shares similar design challenges. Through the innovative and specialist responses to time in graphic novels, the book designer could make use of these approaches, and apply them more broadly.
The Graphic Novel Page and the Design of Time. MA dissertation (Distinction)
Read in full on Researchgate. As of 2025, this paper has been read by close to 150 students and researchers.
Abstract
While the graphic novel tends to be judged as a work of literature, it originates as a piece of design in book form. It is the techniques with which graphic novels articulate time on the page which is the focus of this research. The graphic novels selected are from the sub-genre of (auto)biography, published since 2000 in the UK or US. Narrative in the chosen graphic novels is built on memories and research into real lives. The anchoring of traumatic personal experiences within a factual framework requires a particularly nuanced handling of time. Graphic novels are products of interconnected relationships. Panels are read individually, yet simultaneously the design of the page has an impact on the reader. The relationship between elements within the panel and across the page influence the reading pace. Narrative push accelerates the reader through the story while visual pull increases dwell time in which to absorb the details. How push-pull works is analysed within the panel, and in relationships between panels at strip, spread and page level. The articulation of images, text and layout results in nuanced and complex pacing. Book design shares similar design challenges. Through the innovative and specialist responses to time in graphic novels, the book designer could make use of these approaches, and apply them more broadly.