The Process

The process involved visual investigations & material studies, analysis of printed materials, development of personas, ideation and prototyping in order to deliver the final publication.

Investigation of visual elements that would link to the personal, hand-crafted nature of the publication helped to inform the identity of the publication

I found initial inspiration for the project when looking through old hand-written family recipes. I loved that they told a story beyond just the words on the worn paper; each time an annotation was added was a chance to learn from trial & error and connect to a slower kind of life. Throughout this process I had been scribbling recipes and ideas on my own dotted note paper which came to inform the layout and grid system of the publication. In addition, washi tape & hand lettered annotations pulled from my own note-taking came to make up the visual language of I’m In A Pickle.

Personas were a tool used to inform the design process and ensure that the resulting publication was relevant and engaging for the intended audience.

The personas I developed represented the types of readers I hoped to engage with; millennials who are looking for fulfilment & satisfaction in the art of crafting something slowly and learning new skills. These personas helped to inform design choices relating to elements like narrative voice, colour, typography & illustrative style to ensure I was creating the intended mindful, patient & present experience.

Looking at other publications which exhibited similar stylistic elements or layout helped me to understand how to create harmony between playful typographic & illustrative elements.

Understanding how these elements interact enabled me to create a layout that was easy to navigate & understand. The publication needed to be highly readable & legible for the reader to create an easeful and calming experience. The focus is on placing energy into learning a new skill, not into struggling to comprehend a difficult recipe! Publications which were useful references for this project included Frankie Magazine & The Smith Journal (published by Frankie Press) and How To Hygge by Signe Johansen.

A system for organising information was prototyped & refined based on findings from the research.

A grid system was developed to organise content in a way that was easy to comprehend alongside a system for establishing hierarchy to guide the reader through the recipes. Focus was on creating a clear flow with the use of negative space to push focus onto key information. Typography and illustrative style  were characterised by a hand-drawn feel to give personality and imperfections to the piece, slowing down the process of reading and encouraging patience and mindfulness. Physical prototyping of the publication ensured that discrepancies between screen and print could be minimised and the publication performed how it was intended in the physical space before being sent to print.

The Points of Learning

Not only was the process of designing this publication incredibly therapeutic for myself, it made me realise the satisfaction of sharing something that you have put so much effort into nurturing and developing. There is infinite benefit to slowing down & taking the time to immerse yourself in the process to ensure the best outcome.

Never send a job to print without testing it out first

It’s all well and good to painstakingly slave away at all of the details while hunched over your computer screen but there is a ridiculous difference between a polished e-book and a beautifully printed, knowingly constructed physical publication. Colour, contrast and weight all play out differently off screen and it is crucial to prototype to ensure that all on screen elements interact just as well on paper. Putting in the effort to fool-proof the design in studio saves all of the heartbreak & disappointment of overlooked details in a rushed print job!