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.
WORK | Pietro Querini, a 15th-century sailing captain from Venice, was shipwrecked at Røst during the winter of 1432. The plot of the Querini opera centres around the stark contrast between the modest living conditions of northern Norway and the opulent lifestyle of Venice.
The visual identity of the opera captures these contrasts through the use of colours, typography, imagery, and proportions. You can see more of the opera’s visual identity here.
WORK | In 2022, the year was primarily characterized by the completion of my doctoral degree, the Viva voce examination, minor adjustments, submission, and graduation. However, my life as a book and identity designer is gradually starting to mirror the annual report.
PhD | Today I have officially been awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Many thanks to the University of Reading and the Department of Typography and Graphic Communication for the opportunity to be part of the research culture. It has been a challenging and exciting journey with tons of knowledge, archival, structuring, discussions, thinking and writing, including a pandemic.
WORK | After three successful performances at Røst, the Querini Opera has been invited to perform at Arsenale Nord in Venice in October 2023. The venue is a former shipyard from the 1400s with high ceilings and large archways, providing a unique and dramatic setting for the opera.
I am hired to develop the visual identity for the opera. Together with Hildegunn Pettersen, Raine Nilsen and Monica Stendahl Rokne, we started with a one-day workshop defining the vision, aim and desired personality for the identity of the opera.
WORK | At the same time I was finalising my thesis, I designed a book for Steinerskolen in Trondheim, which celebrated its 50th anniversary. It has been a great and exciting project and a pleasure working with author Anne Lise Aakervik. The book was launched after an excellent performance in Olavshallen on 5 October 2022, including all the pupils from the school. See more from the book.
PhD | I was excited to enter Teams and the online viva voce examination with Dr Alison Barnes and Professor Eric Kindel today. It went well, and I enjoyed the conversation. After two and a half hours, they confirmed that I had passed and recommended that I would be awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, subject to minor amendments being made to my thesis.
Celebrating with Trine Neumann-Larsen at Britannia Hotel. Happy, exhausted and very proud.
WORK | 2021 has been characterized by a life in the world of letters and texts. Everything has revolved around research, language, sentences, explanations, understanding, labels, presentation, structure, more structure, more sentences, corrections, fine-tuning, abstracts, and conclusions.
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…
