For over a century, Takeo has redefined what paper can be, not just a surface for ideas, but a medium for imagination itself.
Since its founding in 1899, Takeo has continuously expanded the creative possibilities of fine paper, crafting materials that engage the senses through color, texture, and form. Each year, the company celebrates this spirit through a special gift set for their clients, offering a showcase of artistry and craftsmanship. For the Year of the Sheep in 2015, the gift took shape as a diary calendar inspired by the timeless nursery rhyme “Baa Baa Black Sheep.”
Kusa is a space for contemplation, comfort, and slow nourishment. A place that moves with the seasons, but always feels like home.
At its core, Tan Puay Tee’s collection of artwork, bound in a three-part book, is a vessel of memory and devotion in honour of his beloved wife.
Our challenge was to shape a design that could hold this depth of sentiment with clarity and care. We approached the book as a gift that held the journey of remembrance.
We designed the book to echo this unfolding perception. Three chapters trace her vision, while die-cut windows and folded inserts shift scale and perspective, mirroring the act of looking closer, deeper, and differently.
The design journey unfolds like a whimsical fable. A monochrome palette highlights the purity and depth of the paper, paired with playful typography and lyrical copy. As the pages turn, abstract interpretations of the rhyme come alive, revealing an imaginative narrative through design.
The set also includes a series of Chinese New Year red packets carrying wishes of fortune and renewal, representing a thoughtful fusion of East and West, tradition and creativity.
The typography is deliberately understated to serve asa quiet companion to each imagery. From material to layout each book echos the artist’s own intent and pace, to create a work that is both an archive and a love letter.
