Project Collection
Overview
The ask was to create a recipe pairing book (to pair the recipes with a theme). This cookbook is a brutalist exploration of Polish cuisine, inspired by the design and aesthetics of 1970s communist Poland. I used bold, utilitarian typography, stark layouts, and black/white halftone food photography, the book reflects the era’s rationing system, food scarcity, and resourcefulness. Chapter breaks incorporate scanned ration cards, government-issued food regulations, and references to the culinary limitations of the time. It is a historical and educational piece, pairing Polish food with its history in a relevant way.
Each of the ten spreads presents a traditional Polish dish, designed with a balance of historical accuracy and modern brutalist sensibilities. By stripping the visuals down to their rawest form, this project highlights the resilience and creativity that defined Polish cooking under strict conditions.
Approach
More than just a recipe collection, this book is a deeply immersive experience—designed to look and feel like a food-themed newspaper straight out of 1970s Communist Poland. From the typography to the color palette and material choices, every detail evokes the aesthetic of the era. The pages feel as if they’ve been pulled from a time when ingredients were scarce, and resourcefulness was essential.
Beyond food, the book documents the progression of communism in Poland—from the immediate aftermath of World War II to the political transformations of the late 1980s. It’s divided into three main sections: an introduction (including chapter intros and prefaces), the recipes themselves, and a conclusion with a glossary.
At the heart of the book lies the concept of Kartki—Polish ration cards used during the communist era. These cards dictated what families could eat, when, and how much. The structure of the book follows this concept, with each chapter themed around a specific Kartka and the limitations it imposed. This thematic division not only organizes the recipes but also illustrates the evolving nature of rationing and scarcity over time.
Ultimately, the book serves as both a culinary record and a cultural artifact—capturing the intersection of food, politics, and identity in a time when survival demanded both ingenuity and solidarity.
Framer 2023
Amsterdam