Book Ferret
Book Ferret, a refuge for bibliophiles, is the passion project of a pair of enthusiasts for the printed word. With a warm and inviting collection of new and gently used books, Book Ferret offers an alternative to online behemoths where customers can rediscover the joys of holding an actual book in your hands. It's born from a conviction that nothing replaces the sound of turning pages, the smell of fresh ink, and the crack of a book spine. The Design Office Of John Murph was invited to help bring this passion project to life.
Brand Strategy | Copywriting | Logo | Print | Website Design | Signage
The Client came to the table with the whimsical name of “Book Ferret” as an ownable moniker that announces the product focus and adds a personification of the idea of “ferreting” out a treasured find among the book stacks.
Using this, along with an illustration of a smoking jacket-clad ferret enjoying a leather-bound book, led the Design Office to target a particular aesthetic when developing a brand strategy. It seemed a natural fit.
The familiar ornamentality of Victorian era typography and design instinctively aligns with the subject matter of books and bibliophilia, as well as stately smoking jacket couture.
The Victorian genre provides a vast library of style and methodology that can be mined for an appropriate brand presentation.
Using the original, whimsical illustration provided by the client, The Design Office developed a line-engraved avatar character named Phineas the Ferret. This mascot embodied the brand with a comfy smoking jacket and a bright-eyed enthusiasm.
A brand voice was also cultivated in tandem with this manifestation, with a decidedly Victorian flare and turn of phrase.
