The Challenge
Trace the history of a word, group of words or phrase and show where it came from - its provenance - how and when it became part of the English Language and how its meaning, use, spelling and punctuation might have changed in the process.
Solution
A typographic book mapping the history of the word clue though English Language. The history of the word is portrayed through literature texts which are on layered pages of tracing paper to create strips of DNA profiles. The DNA profiles represent the genetic make up of the word, showing the different characteristics that are inherited from different eras through its history while also reflecting a forensic technique for investigating clues.
Thread is used for the binding to tie in with the original definition of the word clue as a ball of thread or yarn. The cover is painted with thermochromic ink which leaves a temporary trace of the readers hand prints from their body heat when they handle the book.