I’m Bodil, a book and identity designer from Trondheim, Norway, holding a PhD in Typography & Graphic Communication from the University of Reading. My research interest concentrates on the verbal and visual presentation of health messages on food labels dating from 1850 to 1970. Please read my blog and have a look at my work. Feel free to get in touch if you think there is something I can do for you. Get in touch ›
A space for my work, research, ideas, typography, and passion for books.
HEI STUDIO & FORLAG | Our first bookazine is out: Tempe-Sorgenfri, part of our neighbourhood guide series. We take you on a journey through the past, present, and future of Tempe and Sorgenfri. Discover hidden treasures, follow traces of history, and get tips on what to see, taste, hear, and do. What an interesting area, and what lovely people! Across the pages, we invite you to explore this in-between part of town, just outside the centre. In recent years, it has transformed from a quiet, overlooked corner into a neighbourhood full of surprises — if you take the time to pause, look closely, and maybe stumble a little.
HEI STUDIO & FORLAG | On October 1, 2025, I started HEI Forlag together with writer & editor Nina Vennevold. HEI is a small independent publishing project where our shared love for books, design and storytelling takes shape — through books, book singles, bookazines and other printed matter. We care deeply about places that are often overlooked, voices that don’t always get the space they deserve, and small stories that risk getting lost in the scroll. HEI is our way of slowing things down and making room for what matters. Alongside publishing, we also run writing courses, bookbinding courses and creative workshops.
Our visual identity is playful and open. The colour palette is drawn from houses in Trondheim, and the idea of the HEI bubble gives us a flexible frame — something that can hold many voices, formats and ideas over time. More of the visual identity can be found here. www.heiforlag.no
WORK | I have designed a new label for EC Dahls Bryggeri: Hovmesteren Juleøl, bottled in a champagne-inspired format created for the festive table. The design draws on the atmosphere of Christmas — warmth, anticipation and ceremony — with the ambition that the bottle can stand proudly on the table and catch the eye as part of the setting, not just as packaging. Returning to a visual identity I developed for EC Dahls Bryggeri, this project became a natural continuation of an established visual language.
WORK | After our initial kick-off, I’ve been diving deeper into shaping the visual identity and communication approach for Skarven. It’s been exciting to bring Hildegunn’s vision to life – creating a platform that carries the warmth, stories, and rhythms of Røst into the world. You can see more of the identity here.
WORK | I’m thrilled to kick off a new visual identity project after two inspiring days working with Hildegunn Pettersen. Together, we’re developing the foundation for a communication platform for a new travel concept set far out at sea. Rooted in raw nature, ever-changing weather, and deep local knowledge, the identity will reflect the rhythm of the landscape – and the stories carried by wind, voice, and sea.
WORK | Time to look back. As usual, I’ve designed the annual report for my own company. It sums up a year of interesting challenges and ongoing development.
Looking ahead, I have more questions than answers. Will I continue facilitating design-driven innovation courses? Will I create new workshops related to youth and mental health? Will I travel, start new collaborations, or form completely new constellations?
WORK | I’m excited to share my new project—Moonberry Publishing, a small independent publishing house exploring the connections between health, society, and design. Some books will dive into specific themes, while others will bring together diverse voices, featuring contributions from writers, photographers, and illustrators.
I’ll be working with a variety of formats—from visually engaging children’s books to thoughtful essays—always with a strong visual identity. My hope is that these books will spark curiosity, inspire conversations, and offer fresh perspectives.
The first collection draws on insights from my doctoral research. The first book briefly explores how health messages on food labels evolved during the Industrial Revolution (1850–1918) and is available now at www.moonberry.no, with two more coming in 2025. Stay tuned!
WORK | I’m excited to share my latest book design project, Blåtone, created in close collaboration with two amazing photographers, Wenche Dahle and Lars Andreas Dybvik. It’s been an inspiring journey, and the result is a beautiful book that reflects their exhibition, centered around diptych photography.
Blåtone comes with three different cover colors, and the typography captures the essence of the musical term blue note, often tied to a mood of melancholy and contemplation. Like the subtle dissonance in blues and jazz, the book invites readers to go beyond what they see at first glance and explore the deeper emotional connection between the images and nature. Some of the pages are creatively cut to give a glimpse of the exhibition’s images—turn the page, and you reveal the full picture hidden behind, inviting a deeper exploration.
I hope the book inspires others to reflect on their own relationship with the natural world. See more from the book here.
WORK | I’ve just completed my PhD after four years and eight months of research and reflection. In 2023, I’ve been trying to slow down and consider what’s next—Information design? Writing a book? Maybe several books? For children? Based on my PhD?
But life moves on, work needs to be done, and income is essential. One of my proudest achievements this year has been completing the design of a large book about the 40-year history of Cirka Teater. This 300-page ‘self-biography’ brings their performances—both big and small—to life, visually and verbally. Designing the anthology with over 400 photos, illustrations, and contributions from directors, actors, musicians, architects, and more was a rewarding challenge. The front cover of my annual report features the cover illustration by Ina Sæther Berger from the Cirka Teater book, beautifully reflecting the project’s spirit.
TRAVEL, WORK AND INSPIRATION | Ten days in Berlin, bringing my design work from home, writing an application for a new project, visiting Fotografiska Berlin and The Buchstabenmuseum, drinking brilliant coffee, and buying too many books. It was a fantastic trip filled with interesting people, including the inspiring and talented Anja Lutz. Anja is an art book designer and co-founder of the publishing company The Green Box. She also founded A–Z, a space in Mitte Berlin dedicated to experimental graphic design.
