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.
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WORK | Based on the new visual identity created for Norwegian Health Network, business cards were developed. Each person has twelve color variations, which emphasize not only the sophisticated colors in the visual profile, but also gives the company a fresh and unexpected look.
WORK | An annual report for The Norwegian Health Network, Norsk Helsenett is created. Norwegian Health Network’s mission is to ensure that there is an appropriate and secure infrastructure for effective interaction between parts of the health and care systems. A sophisticated grid system that can support the various points of contact that occurs between the various parties in the health sector is developed. The annual report contains many stories that focus on what services and supplies means for people. The work is a cooperation with ablemagic. See more from the annual report here.
WORK | Cirka Teater has made its mark with a rich, visual, theatrical language. The repertoire ranges from small, intimate performances to stunning outdoor spectacles and main stage productions. The Group is one of the most experienced groups in the performing art scene in Norway. In 2014 Cirka Teater celebrates for 30 years, and in that regard I have made their anniversary invitation. The invitation should reflect the Theatre’s creativity, scope, insanity and humour. The result is a handwritten envelope with an exciting content; folder, invitation, postcards and a rich illustrated map. The illustrations are made by Anne Marit Sæther and Gilles Berger. See more from Cirka Teater here.
WORK | The Norwegian Constitution is 200 years in 2014, and the museum Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum in Trondheim celebrates this anniversary with the exhibition Vidvinkel mot 1814. The catalog is a collection of various essays. The idea behind the catalog was to create an expression from the Greek-Roman antiquity. The colours, typography and the symbols are carefully designed with this period in mind. See more form the catalog here.
WORK | Happy to announce that the The book DUODU knitwear design achieved diploma in the advertising award Sterk 2013.
WORK | With extreme accuracy I have converted Karen Bit Vejle’s beautiful paper cut art to correct originals. 6 products are manufactured in polished stainless steel for Georg Jensen’s easter collection 2014, A bit of easter.
Karen Bit Vejles form of expression, psaligraphy, literally means the art of drawing or painting with scissors. Her magical cuttings in the travelling exhibition Scissors for a Brush, are rooted in a tradition that has known a long journey through history. But she has created a personal style and technique that are entirely her own. For more than 35 years she has been absorbed, fascinated, and deeply committed to this art form that developed from small, simple snowflakes to unusually large and highly complex image cuttings. She is one of very few in Europe who can cut at such an advanced technical and artistic level. There is a great degree of humour in Karen Bit Vejle’s world of imagery; humour and the ability to identify joy in small things. Just as often, though, she confronts deep seriousness and themes intended to invoke involvement and reflection. Her works are captivating surprise packages. By meeting Karen Bit Vejle’s images of air and paper we can find ourselves both surprised and inspired! (Text about Bit: www.georgjensen.com/europe/designer/karen-bit-vejle/) See more from Bit, or browse her own website.
WORK | A new identity for Rissa is developed. The main idea is to show that Rissa is an active municipality – and a good place to stay. The work is a collaboration with Ingrid Baadnes from ablemagic. Colours, typography and design elements are based on strong values; engaged, lush and welcoming, and the aim has been to show an overall impression based on nature, experiences, participation, diversity and proximity to the sea. See more from Rissa here.
PERSONAL PROJECT, WORK | The starting point for my trip to Japan related to the support from The Scandinavia – Japan Sasakawa Foundation, was to gain an insight into Japanese visual communication.
I visited both Tokyo and Kyoto and documented in the first place the Japanese visual language using the camera. I started wide with many different directions; architecture, pattern, manhole covers, signs, clothing, food, stores, packaging design and posters. The result has been nearly 1000 images. In addition, I visited various galleries, and had specifically benefit from an exhibition at the Ginza Graphic Gallery, where the award-winning graphic designer Rikako Nagashima showed various works. In addition, I worked on making contacts. I had a meeting with the Art Director Kaoru Matsuno at Hara Design Institute/Nippon Design Center. She works closely with Kenya Hara who is also the Art Director for Muji. In addition, I worked two days with Mr. Yamamzaki Yo, where I was trained in ancient Japanese bookbinding techniques. Mr. Yamazaki Yo is a renowned bookbinder in Tokyo.
Given the goal of the trip, it’s been an interesting journey. With the imagery I now hold, it will be interesting to go more in depth of Japanese design in order to relate it to Western design. The contact with Mr. Yamazaki Yo gave me not only a concrete introduction into Japanese bookbinding techniques, but there was also a fundamental insight into the Japanese way of life, aesthetics and accuracy. Kaoru Matsuno gave an insight into how Hara Design Institute works in various design processes.
The journey and the process has given me inspiration to convey impressions through both lectures and a book. The lectures are intended as a process description based on the experiences I have gained. The idea about the book is to create inspiration for both Japanese and Western designers.
An alternative, or as an addition, it is also possible to think of an exhibition. I have been in contact with Hagiso, a small, newly renovated Japanese house in Yanaka, north of Tokyo, that is a venue for art and other events. They are open to offer an exhibition space for the project. The idea of the exhibition is to introduce Japanese and Western design in a possible artistic context with the book and the bookbinding techniques as a starting point.
WORK | A new book has been designed and printed. The book is a tool to explore Trondheim. 26 themed walks are accompanied by maps and tips on places to stop. It has been an exciting and extensive process, both finding good typography and to allocate a lot of text and photographs on a comparatively small size. Using the font Proxima Nova and a distinct color palette that structures the chapters, makes the book readable and clear. The book is published by Museumsforlaget. See more from the book here.
WORK | Sluppen is a district in Trondheim. The identity is developed to show a city in transition. The idea is to show that the site is constantly evolving, things are changing, new architectural forms emerge, rooms open and close. I have developed a symbol inspired by the new buildings in the area. To emphasize the continuous change, the logo consists of about 28 different symbols that are almost equal but at the same time different. Colors are selected on the basis that the area has a clear environmental profile. See more from Sluppen here.