Illustrated Booklet Project: Towers and Meanings

About the project

The idea began with an unexpected resemblance: while smoking, I noticed that a piece of cigarette ash reminded me of a tower’s silhouette. This observation became the starting point for a small illustrated publication exploring the relationship between form, function, and meaning.

Format & Materials

I chose a vertical folded booklet that reveals all three towers at once when fully opened. The publication is printed on 230 gsm ivory paper, selected for its warm tone and tactile surface.

The illustrations use simple black linework, allowing the paper’s texture and the surrounding negative space to remain an essential part of the visual language.

Illustration & Text

Inspired by the Japanese concept of ma, the project uses emptiness and pauses as active elements of the composition.

Each tower represents a separate idea, developed through a short accompanying text. The writing reflects on objects that gradually lose their original purpose, become vulnerable themselves, or require the same care they were meant to provide.

The texts are written in the voice of a distant observer, almost as if seen from the perspective of a god.

Typography

The typographic system combines Kiwi Maru for headings and Merriweather for body text. The contrast between the expressive, literary character of the headings and the restrained readability of the body type creates a balance between visual personality and clarity.

Both typefaces support the publication’s quiet, contemplative atmosphere, complementing the hand-drawn illustrations and the warm, tactile quality of the ivory paper.

Further applications

Although personal in its origin, the project can extend beyond the printed publication. I explored possible applications of its visual language through mockups and experiments with other printed objects.