Mandate

This project focused on designing a large-format hardcover book to showcase Mandy El-Sayegh’s art.

Design thinking

My intention was to take inspiration from Mandy El-Sayegh’s layered approach to art while integrating a strong influence from British layout design. I aimed to balance the raw, tactile quality of her work with the clean, intentional organization characteristic of European design principles.

Design making

I focused on Mandy El-Sayegh’s artwork as the central element of the book’s visual identity. The front cover shows her work without text, allowing its rich textures and layers to stand out, while bold sans-serif text was placed on the spine for a clean look. To reflect the tactility always present in her work, I incorporated a debossed gold foil square that mimics the artwork itself, fostering a deeper connection between the reader and the art. Inside, the design continues to draw from her visual language, with structured yet fluid layouts that echo her layering techniques. Chapter dividers are composed of two pages, a semi-translucent vellum with her artwork printed on it, layered over the chapter page beneath, to further emphasize her signature layering technique.