I’m Proud To Be a descendant of my ancestors. They were remarkable, brave, and generous people. I’m proud to honour them, learn from them, and keep their spirit alive. This is more than just a book, it’s a living legacy.

Book Design

Proud To Be

Designed for the Gilbert family

Accolade

2025 Applied Arts Student Awards

Editorial Design Entire Book/Magazine

Proud To Be is the first book in a five-part series that tells the story of my family’s history. Both my grandmothers died last year and their stories—and those of my other relatives—must be told and carried forward, or they will be lost forever.

Many of my ancestors hastily left their homes due to unthinkable persecution, just because they were Jewish. With today’s rise in antisemitism, it is my responsibility to record and share their stories.

This 96-page book’s design and physical production invited lots of exploration. The family story is told through the layout that balances hand-written letters and archival photographs with storytelling. The lay-flat Coptic bind looks unfinished, as many ancestors hastily left home with things unfinished; yet the glossy vinyl touches placed throughout (on every symbol and book title) adds elegance, a nod to the beautiful life built in Canada.

Each book has its own theme colour, with yellow as the series colour. The colours are rich, representing a rich history, community, and life. This book’s colour—green—is used as the background on “hero” pages that profile family members, and as the colour for the binding thread and painted fore-edges.

In the Contents, readers find a pocket containing a bookmark to have on hand as they read. On the bookmark is the generation legend—symbols assigned to each level of the family tree—helping them navigate the many people in the stories.

I’m Proud To Be a descendant of my ancestors. They were remarkable, brave, and generous people. I’m proud to honour them, learn from them, and keep their spirit alive. This is more than just a book, it’s a living legacy.

Book Design

Proud To Be

Designed for the Gilbert family

Accolade

2025 Applied Arts Student Awards

Editorial Design Entire Book/Magazine

Proud To Be is the first book in a five-part series that tells the story of my family’s history. Both my grandmothers died last year and their stories—and those of my other relatives—must be told and carried forward, or they will be lost forever.

Many of my ancestors hastily left their homes due to unthinkable persecution, just because they were Jewish. With today’s rise in antisemitism, it is my responsibility to record and share their stories.

This 96-page book’s design and physical production invited lots of exploration. The family story is told through the layout that balances hand-written letters and archival photographs with storytelling. The lay-flat Coptic bind looks unfinished, as many ancestors hastily left home with things unfinished; yet the glossy vinyl touches placed throughout (on every symbol and book title) adds elegance, a nod to the beautiful life built in Canada.

Each book has its own theme colour, with yellow as the series colour. The colours are rich, representing a rich history, community, and life. This book’s colour—green—is used as the background on “hero” pages that profile family members, and as the colour for the binding thread and painted fore-edges.

In the Contents, readers find a pocket containing a bookmark to have on hand as they read. On the bookmark is the generation legend—symbols assigned to each level of the family tree—helping them navigate the many people in the stories.

I’m Proud To Be a descendant of my ancestors. They were remarkable, brave, and generous people. I’m proud to honour them, learn from them, and keep their spirit alive. This is more than just a book, it’s a living legacy.

Book Design

Proud To Be

Designed for the Gilbert family

Accolade

2025 Applied Arts Student Awards

Editorial Design Entire Book/Magazine

Proud To Be is the first book in a five-part series that tells the story of my family’s history. Both my grandmothers died last year and their stories—and those of my other relatives—must be told and carried forward, or they will be lost forever.

Many of my ancestors hastily left their homes due to unthinkable persecution, just because they were Jewish. With today’s rise in antisemitism, it is my responsibility to record and share their stories.

This 96-page book’s design and physical production invited lots of exploration. The family story is told through the layout that balances hand-written letters and archival photographs with storytelling. The lay-flat Coptic bind looks unfinished, as many ancestors hastily left home with things unfinished; yet the glossy vinyl touches placed throughout (on every symbol and book title) adds elegance, a nod to the beautiful life built in Canada.

Each book has its own theme colour, with yellow as the series colour. The colours are rich, representing a rich history, community, and life. This book’s colour—green—is used as the background on “hero” pages that profile family members, and as the colour for the binding thread and painted fore-edges.

In the Contents, readers find a pocket containing a bookmark to have on hand as they read. On the bookmark is the generation legend—symbols assigned to each level of the family tree—helping them navigate the many people in the stories.