Bookcover / Book lay-out
Bookcover / Book lay-out
Zambezian Diary I, II, III
Zambezian Diary I, II, III
Photoshop/Indesign
Photoshop/Indesign
I created a set of three books for Gerdien De Ruiter, the grandmother of my girlfriend, Irene.
During the first three years of Irene's life, she lived in Lukulu, Zambia,
where her parents worked as a tropical doctor and a nurse. Every year, Irene's grandparents,
Gerdien and Jan, would visit the family for an extended stay. Those visits created many special
memories that the family still cherishes today.
During their time in Zambia, Jan De Ruiter kept a diary. He wrote about everyday life,
their adventures, and the special moments they shared as a family.
His journals captured a unique period in their lives and became a wonderful record of those years.
Later in life, Jan developed dementia. Gerdien wanted to make sure his stories
would never be lost, so she carefully typed out all of his handwritten diaries.
She also collected many of the photographs the family had taken during their time in Zambia,
combining Jan's words with the images into three beautiful books.
Sadly, Jan passed away before the books were completed.
Just a few weeks after his passing, all three books were finished.
The books have become much more than a collection of diaries and photographs.
They keep Jan's memories alive and tell the story of a very special time he spent
with his children and grandchildren in Zambia. They allow future generations to
read his own words, see the places he visited, and experience those moments through his eyes.
Creating these three books was a very meaningful project.
It was a way to honour Jan's life and preserve a part of his family's history.
Thanks to Gerdien's dedication, his stories and memories will continue to be shared
and enjoyed for many years to come.
✝ In Loving Memory of Jan de Ruiter
Forever remembered through his words, his stories, and the memories he shared with his family.
I created a set of three books for Gerdien De Ruiter, the grandmother of my girlfriend, Irene.
During the first three years of Irene's life, she lived in Lukulu, Zambia,
where her parents worked as a tropical doctor and a nurse. Every year, Irene's grandparents,
Gerdien and Jan, would visit the family for an extended stay. Those visits created many special
memories that the family still cherishes today.
During their time in Zambia, Jan De Ruiter kept a diary. He wrote about everyday life,
their adventures, and the special moments they shared as a family.
His journals captured a unique period in their lives and became a wonderful record of those years.
Later in life, Jan developed dementia. Gerdien wanted to make sure his stories
would never be lost, so she carefully typed out all of his handwritten diaries.
She also collected many of the photographs the family had taken during their time in Zambia,
combining Jan's words with the images into three beautiful books.
Sadly, Jan passed away before the books were completed.
Just a few weeks after his passing, all three books were finished.
The books have become much more than a collection of diaries and photographs.
They keep Jan's memories alive and tell the story of a very special time he spent
with his children and grandchildren in Zambia. They allow future generations to
read his own words, see the places he visited, and experience those moments through his eyes.
Creating these three books was a very meaningful project.
It was a way to honour Jan's life and preserve a part of his family's history.
Thanks to Gerdien's dedication, his stories and memories will continue to be shared
and enjoyed for many years to come.
✝ In Loving Memory of Jan de Ruiter
Forever remembered through his words, his stories, and the memories he shared with his family.
The story behind the Diary
I was responsible for the layout and design of all three books.
I designed the covers and worked together with Gerdien De Ruiter to choose the colours,
making sure each book had its own warm and personal look while still forming a matching collection.
This project was also my first experience working with a professional printer.
During the process, I learned that book production comes with many technical requirements
and guidelines. It taught me how important it is to pay close attention to details such as page setup,
margins, bleed, and print specifications to achieve a high-quality final result.
It was a large and challenging project, but also a very special one.
Knowing that these books would preserve Jan's memories and become
a lasting keepsake for his family made the work especially meaningful.
It was a project that taught me a great deal, both technically and personally.
I was responsible for the layout and design of all three books.
I designed the covers and worked together with Gerdien De Ruiter to choose the colours,
making sure each book had its own warm and personal look while still forming a matching collection.
This project was also my first experience working with a professional printer.
During the process, I learned that book production comes with many technical requirements
and guidelines. It taught me how important it is to pay close attention to details such as page setup,
margins, bleed, and print specifications to achieve a high-quality final result.
It was a large and challenging project, but also a very special one.
Knowing that these books would preserve Jan's memories and become
a lasting keepsake for his family made the work especially meaningful.
It was a project that taught me a great deal, both technically and personally.
What I did