I collaborated with Garrison Keillor on the branding for his two Substack publications, “Garrison Keillor and Friends” as well as the exclusive “The Back Room” for paid subscribers only. I drew inspiration from the rich tapestry of Keillor’s work, which is steeped in nostalgia of a bygone era. While working on this design, I’ll admit that my usual quick design calls turned into much longer conversations as I was drawn in by the delightful chats and the charming Minnesotan accent of Keillor’s assistant, Kate.
We decided on a vintage aesthetic with gold detailing, a simple colour palette and American-inspired fonts. My aim was to strike a balance between a playful yet timeless charm. As these two brands would supplement each other, I applied the same vintage treatment to both brands.
The Backroom is where Garisson Keillor is releasing previously unpublished writings such as monologues, sonnets, limericks & essays. He’s also publishing his latest books chapter by chapter, so paid subscribers will get to read his newest books: “One Last Time Back Home” & “Shakespeare’s Mom” before the ink is dry.
Or as Garisson put it:
If a New York editor accepted my new novel, One Last Time Back Home, or the two in progress, Frankie & Johnny At The Insurrection or Shakespeare’s Mom, they wouldn’t come out until 2023 at the earliest. This is painful to an old man. I want to connect with readers Now. With digital publishing, I could have a book in your hands on Tuesday.