Rob Bell Book Design + Launch

Opportunity

We were asked by Rob Bell, critically acclaimed author and speaker, to design his book, Drops Like Stars. The book was about art and suffering and how often in life the best work comes from the hardest places. It was incredible and we knew we had to come up with a design that would serve to elevate the content. Game on.

Approach

We started with liquid nitrogen. Well, actually we started with whiteboards and proposals and concepts, but we quickly got to liquid nitrogen. We proposed a large scale visual concept that took traditionally beautiful objects and deconstructed them in slow motion creating a new and unexpected beauty. We found vibrant exotic flowers, dipped them in liquid nitrogen and destroyed them to capture the now-iconic images for Drops Like Stars.

And yes, we wore safety goggles.

Using the images as our foundation, we designed a large-format book, page by page, as well as a softcover edition, to give people a visual experience along with the compelling content. Working with the author, publisher and large scale printer in China, our team worked obsessively to create a book unlike anything the publisher had seen before. We pushed the edges of what was possible through traditional large scale printing and even invented a new spine that allowed the book to lay flat, giving the reader the best visual experience possible.

And then we pushed further. While we were putting the finishing touches on the book, we concepted an event including a digital experience on a 20-foot by 50-foot display.

Result

Thousands of fans gathered to experience the event and engage with the content in a fresh way. The deeply engaging micro brand for the books and the event received rave reviews. The book was a New York Times Bestseller and has had multiple editions printed around the world. It’s also sitting on our coffee table right now.