Éditions du Boréal

Distilling the essence of a publisher’s most iconic novels.

Challenge

Éditions du Boréal is one of the most renowned independent publishers in Canada.

To celebrate their 60th anniversary, they planned to release a hardcover collection of their most iconic books. But with sales in decline, Boréal needed to entice readers to rediscover them.

A collection of white books with French titles, red spines and minimalist abstract designs.
Three abstract design books with white covers and red text sit artistically on a cream, wave-shaped shelf.

Solution

Instead of simply reprinting the books’ original disparate covers, we created a cohesive visual language stemming from each novel’s most meaningful lines.

Each piece is adorned with its own poetic illustration, and hand-drawn with the same series of line weights. This consistent visual language – anchored in Boréal’s signature colour palette of red, black, and cream – captured the essence of each book.

A grid of book covers with abstract line art designs and titles in French in red text. Each cover features different patterns of lines or shapes.
A stack of books with red spines and white covers leaning against a beige, curved surface.
Three red and white books stacked at an angle against a gray background, featuring minimalist line art on the covers.
A stack of books with red spines featuring French titles is neatly arranged on a beige, modern geometric table against a gray background.
Red book spines stacked horizontally, each with white text displaying French titles and authors.

Impact

Previously confined to bottom-shelf paperback editions, these novels made a confident return back to bookstores' window displays, helping double sales year over year.

  • 200%

    Increase in sales (YoY)

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