Wellness by Design
- Company: HAVN Saunas
- Editors: Ella Adkins & Martin Walker
- Printer: Hemlock Printers
- Role: Editorial designer
- Contributions: Editorial design · Art direction
Production management · Product photography - Victoria, BC
- 2024
Wellness by Design is a book that showcases the architecture and design of unique saunas around the world. The publication seeks to convey the transformative experience behind these restorative spaces, where architecture and nature intersect with ritual and recovery.
More than just a visual collection, the book is rooted in the context of Victoria, BC—where the project originated through HAVN Saunas. Inspired by the area's landscapes, shorelines, and contrast between wilderness and urban life, the book explores saunas as sanctuaries of self-discovery and healing.
Brief
Martin Walker and Nick Van Buren from HAVN Saunas invited me to design a coffee table book that captures the essence of wellness spaces—both visually and conceptually. They envisioned a publication that could mirror the emotional and sensory experience of entering a sauna.
The project's grounding in Victoria, BC, became a crucial reference throughout the process. The region’s raw natural beauty, proximity to the ocean, and balance between city and wilderness influenced the entire approach. I aimed to express this edge—the dock as a bridge between two worlds—while creating a space for stillness, reflection, and immersion. I also led the photography direction and developed a layout that could handle rich visual content alongside compelling editorial material.
Approach
I began by revisiting the book’s format to ensure it could support high-quality image reproduction, especially for promotional use. I designed a layout that offered flexibility in the placement of images and text while maintaining a cohesive rhythm throughout the publication.
For typography, I selected Ivar and LL Circular, two contrasting yet complementary typefaces. Ivar brings a softness and hand-crafted warmth, while LL Circular adds clarity and a clean, modern tone. Together, they echo the duality of sauna architecture: intimate and elemental, yet contemporary and refined. I worked closely with editors Ella Adkings and Martin Walker, maintaining an open dialogue to fine-tune both the structure and feel of the book.
Outcome
The result is a thoughtfully designed coffee table book that combines rich imagery with in-depth editorial content. Each project is introduced through texts that provide context, emotion, and narrative, creating a layered experience for the reader.
While the book includes subtle visual nods to HAVN Sauna, it was important for me to ensure that it stood on its own—reflecting the broader vision of the editors, Martin Walker and Ella Adkings. The final design honors their curatorial direction while creating a cohesive identity unique to the publication. Every detail, from paper selection to the soft-touch cover finish, was carefully considered to enrich the reader’s sensory and physical experience.
