“Captains: Visual Archetypes” is a visual research project that delves into the portrayal of captains in cinema, exploring their actions, attributes, and character traits that align them with various archetypes. The book’s design is inspired by the metaphor of a marine radar, a symbol of navigation and direction, central to the thematic exploration. Just as a radar helps sailors steer through stormy seas, this research serves to guide readers through the complex world of cinematic captains. The radar’s grid, dots, and markers structure the book’s layout, creating an engaging and systematic visual experience.

The cover design features fluorescent paint that glows in the dark, enhancing the navigational theme. It also incorporates a rotating element, mounted on a typographic bolt, which mimics the movement of a radar, adding a dynamic touch to the concept of exploration.

The research is organized into four distinct chapters, each focusing on a specific group of archetypes:
Duty and Honor: Loyalty Amid the Storm;
In Search of Adventure: Life on the Edge;
Shadows of Power: Rule-breaking Leaders;
Calm Seas: The Irresponsible Runaways.

Each chapter is carefully designed to reflect the characteristics of the captains it explores, using green hues throughout the text to enhance the visual theme. The pixelated Quattrocode font, designed by Arthur Lebsack, is used for headings, mimicking the digital readout of a radar display. This gives the entire book an immersive, high-tech look, connecting the theme of navigation with the structure of the research.

The content itself is presented with graphic elements such as dots, which evoke the navigation markers on a radar screen. Captions are placed at the bottom of spreads below images, with different font styles to differentiate between types of information, further aiding the reader’s navigation of the material. The entire design concept creates a cohesive and immersive experience, guiding the reader through the world of cinematic captains with clarity and precision.