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 blog about my work, research, ideas, typography and passion for books.
PhD | Today, 16 May 2022, I submitted my thesis. Happy, relieved, exhausted and proud. In the next few months, I will prepare for the online viva voce examination to be held on Tuesday, 2 August 2022. I will be examined by Dr Alison Barnes, School of Humanities and Communication Arts, University of Western Sydney, Australia and Professor Eric Kindel, Head of Department, Typography & Graphic Communication, University of Reading.
Tomorrow is the Norwegian Constitution Day which will be a great day to celebrate in many ways.
WORK | This year’s annual report for my own business is characterised by a year with a pandemic, lockdown, writing, frustration, face masks, rules, testing, new rules, restrictions, tiredness and difficulty focusing. Most of the time spent on working is related to the thesis, in addition to a few design projects, such as finalising the book about Selbu patterns and identity for EiP (Everything is Possible).
PhD | I am working, reading, and writing everywhere; indoor, outdoor, in the library, in the department or cafés (when it is not lockdown) and getting closer to the final submission date…
PHD | Three years and five months on, after been reading, thinking, writing, searching, sampling, structuring, laughing, crying, wondering, discussing – including a year in lockdown – there are some indications – it´s beginning to look like a thesis…
WORK | My latest book design ‘Selbumønster’ (Selbu pattern) is a beautiful book showing the diversity of the knitting tradition in Selbu. The book presents registered patterns used on garments that have been produced in the village of Selbu or sold as the brand name ‘Selbustrikk’. The book, written by Anne Bårdsgård, is a follow-up from ‘Selbuvotter” (Selbu mittens) and grounded on a similar visual expression. See more from Selbumønster.
PHD | 13 February is my final research seminar at the Department of Typography & Graphic Communication. A paper is presented as a part of the seminar comprising a case study of food labels for milk and milk-related products. The presentation provides some of my findings regarding key social changes, food label design and health messages.
PHD | The Centre for Ephemera Studies is located in the Department of Typography and Graphic Communication and holds much exciting material from 1800 to the present day; from domestic and imported food labels to advertisements and posters. I have spent many hours in this room, going through each box at the time.
WORK | Operating simultaneously as a graphic designer and researcher is not always easy and several days contains work from both disciplines. My everyday life inspires this year’s annual report for my own company, from the food I am eating, where I am working, what I am reading to travels, archives and preparations for new book projects.
PHD | Spending one day in The National Archives, Kew London researching milk-related documents from the 1930-1950s; advertisements, letters and written communication between the Milk Marketing Board and various agencies. A huge and crowded place, many documents, a lot of information and many impressions. Some useful stuff – some not…
PHD RESEARCH / INSPIRATION | Bringing my Mac, books, many articles and proper shoes to Norwich for a few days to write, think, be inspired, walk, drink good coffee – write more, read more, think more, drink more good coffee
