Why make books by hand?
To discover what I’m made of. All the mistakes and messes I've made during my journey as a fine bookbinder are the greatest opportunities ever given to me. They taught me who I am, what I am made of. Without them, I don't know who I would be. – Robin Brandes
Robin Brandes’ devotion and skill as a fine design bookbinder evolved from her deep knowledge of graphic design. For 30 years, Robin was owner and creative director of an award-winning San Francisco design firm dedicated to creating inspiring visual communications.
In 2015, Robin completed the Bookbinding Core Certificate Program at the San Francisco Center for the Book. During the summer of 2022, Robin completed the Design Binding Intensive Master Class taught by Dominic Riley at the San Francisco Center of the Book. She has studied with Kathy Abbott, Coleen Curry, and Lang Ingalls.
Her fine bindings have been exhibited at Arion Press, The American Bookbinders Museum, The Book Club of California, Guild of Book Workers, The San Francisco Center for the Book, the San Francisco Public Library, the Historic City Hall, Philadelphia, The Leonardo, Salt Lake City, Utah, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming, Laramie, and the Dayton Library, Regis University, Denver, Colorado. Her fine bindings are held in collections at the San Francisco Public Library and the Book Club of California.
In August 2023, Robin won First Place Winner of the Rocky Mountain Guild of Book Workers 2023 Traveling Exhibition! Her fine bindings: 2020 Vision featuring nineteen wood engravers, one collector, and the artists who inspired them and LISTEN her book design, binding and content inspired by the recording of “The Maids of Cadiz” performed by Miles Davis and arranged by Gil Evans. https://rockymountain6.wixsite.com/rmgbw/2023-traveling-exhibition-winners
Robin is a member of the Hand Bookbinders of California, the Guild of Book Workers, and the Colophon Club.