Rendezvous: stories of love, loss, identity and belonging
About the Project: Rendezvous: Stories of Love, Loss, Identity and Belonging is a memoir by Caroline Ishii that explores her family's experience of the forced displacement and internment of Japanese Canadians during the Second World War. Through personal reflections, letters and journal entries, Caroline traces the lasting impact of this history across generations.
I designed the book's cover and interior layout for both paperback and e-book formats. The cover incorporates kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, using Caroline's personal photographs to symbolize resilience, healing and the beauty found in imperfection.
Project Goals: The goal of this project was to visually communicate the complex emotions and themes explored in the memoir while creating a cohesive and engaging reading experience. A key challenge was incorporating a variety of content, including recipes, journal entries, email correspondence and personal letters, into a consistent layout that maintained clarity, readability and visual interest throughout.
Design Solution: The final design featured a subtle colour palette with soft purple tones and carefully selected typography that reflected the personal nature of the memoir while prioritizing readability. Body copy was set in Sabon LT Pro, a classic serif typeface chosen for its readability, while chapter headings featured Filson Pro, a bold, curvy typeface that added personality and contrast to the interior pages.
Consistent styling for recipes, letters, journal entries and email correspondence helped distinguish the different types of content while maintaining a cohesive layout throughout.The cover incorporated Caroline's personal photographs using a design inspired by kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, as a visual representation of resilience, healing and connection.
My Process: I began by developing a colour palette and exploring typography that would complement the subject matter, reflect Caroline’s personality and ensure a comfortable reading experience. From there, I created a sample chapter along with layouts for the different content types, including recipes, letters and email correspondence.
After reviewing the initial layouts with Caroline and making adjustments based on her feedback, I moved forward with designing the remainder of the book. The completed layout went through client and editor reviews, with additional revisions made before final approval. I then designed the front and back covers and prepared the files for print production. Once the paperback version was complete, I adapted the book for e-book publication.
Project Outcomes: The book was successfully published in paperback and e-book formats and is now available online and through independent bookstores in Ottawa and Vancouver. Caroline continues to share her story through book readings and events across Canada. The project also marked the beginning of an ongoing working relationship, with Caroline returning to collaborate on additional design projects.
