Wabi-Sabi
Editorial | Re-Brand | Bespoke Typeface |
Art Direction | Photography
Concept work for a student project
CHALLENGE
Create a limited-edition collector’s series book design for Leonard Koren’s philosophical guide ‘Wabi-Sabi’ that pays tribute to the understated elegance of the style. In keeping with the original ‘anti-digital’ philosophy, the new design maintains the handmade integrity of the style whilst capturing the attention of new readers.
EXECUTION
This Japanese philosophy discovers the beauty in imperfection, whilst accepting the cycle of life and death. My design captures the beauty of decay through the freezing of a once perfect flower that has begun to wither. In this captured moment of stillness and withered brokenness a new type of beauty is born to the person who is willing to look for it. This image invites the reader to pause and take in the imperfect beauty, preparing them for the philosophy they are about to engage with. My understated design draws the viewer’s eye to the image whilst incorporating the text through balanced simplicity.
“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”
—Leonard Cohen
[WABI] noun:
“rustic simplicity” or “understated elegance”
[SABI] noun:
“taking pleasure in the imperfect”
Made In
27.4698° S, 153.0251° E
With Love.
CONTACT
Please get in touch for
commissions, questions, or
collaborations:
hello@sydneysu.com
SERVICES
Visual Identity
Photo Art Direction
Web Design
Editorial Design
Packaging Design
Lettering
Content & Marketing Strategy
Wedding Design
SITE CREDITS
Portfolio Photography by
Studio Six N. Five, James Turrell,
Rosie Hardy and Myself.
Copywriting by Amelia Parkin