President’s Dinner 2024 event

A visit to the Library for Rare Book Week

This thing we know to be true – you never know where inspiration comes from.

On a cold Winter evening, we attended a viewing of pre-1800 Japanese Ukiyo-e Printed Books at State Library Victoria, as part of the 2024 Melbourne Rare Book Week.

Ukiyo-e is a technique of woodblock printing common during the Edo (1603-1867) period. Popular subjects included actors, courtesans, landscapes, and scenes from everyday life. The term “ukiyo” (浮世) refers to the urban lifestyle, especially the pleasure-seeking aspects, of Edo period Japan.

Ukiyo-e prints influenced European artists, particularly the Impressionists, with their expressive lines, bold colors, and unconventional compositions.

Along with books featuring flowers, birds and the natural world, one surprising book was of pornography, highlighting the importance of proper tea brewing, even when undertaking intimate business!

It didn’t take long before something occurred to us – could we incorporate elements from these books into our design for event collateral?

The answer, of course, was yes.

A vintage aesthetic, with a modern twist

Three of the mono prints were chosen — featuring scenes of rolling hills & trees fading into the distance, a fish swimming amongst kelp and underwater plants, and a pair of birds flying between a mass of scattered flowers.

We designed a series of modern landscapes, made up of contrasting patterns and shapes, with a warm, rich colour palette of coral, teal, cream and a touch of navy.

Combining the elements, we created a unique brand for the event — a mix of old and new imagery, an elegant approach to typography, and a way to showcase woodblock prints from many centuries past.