Exploring the theme of Slow Food, I created a travel guide series to encourage a slower touristic mindset. Italy, being the epicenter for the Slow Food Movement, focused the research on the practices and sustainable systems of slow food eateries in Florence.
It's a well known fact that Italy has some of the most coveted and delicious cuisines. A lesser known fact is that Italy is the epicenter for the Slow Food Movement. This project dives to the ideologies of the slow food movement through the creation of a food travel guide. I studied what makes a restaurant sustainable: local sourcing of seasonal ingredients, organic and ethical agriculture, supporting local small businesses, and, above all else, preserving the quality of Italian cuisine.
The Slow Food Movement was a driving force in this project. Founded in Rome, Italy, the movement has been catalyst of change throughout the world, guiding and maintaining a high standard of food systems.
Luckily, some of my research needed hands-on methodology....meaning I got to walk around the city, eating my way through pizza and gelato.
The two main resources for this travel guide are listed below:
Slow Food International, March 10, 2017. https://www.slowfood.com/.
Bernardi, Thomas. “Slow Food International Thomas.” Slow Food International, March 10, 2017. https://www.slowfood.com/.
I branded this travel guide to feel familiar and traditional, yet fresh and contemporary. The guides are a series that is branded to work together and a cohesive collection, The illustration style I developed is grounded in richness of the food but feels whimsical with rough edges and abstracted shapes. There is a subtlety of romance with the couples portrayed on the covers of the booklet, because slow food should be romanticized and savored.
The travel guide series comes together to interlace a network that supports the Slow Food Movement.
Slow Florence
The first booklet explores the slow food culture within my then home town, Florence. This fully developed travel guide contains the branding, illustrations, and research to guide you through the eateries in the city. From pizzerias to gelaterias to traditional Tuscan hole-in-the-wall restaurants, you'll find threads of sustainability weaved into the culture and food.
The cover depicts a pair enjoying a plate of pasta encompassed with basil leaves. The back of the booklet shows a sneak peek of what's inside with an illustrated dessert. In this case, it's creamy gelato.
I decided to organize the layout based on the neighborhoods of the city. Each neighborhood is defined by the church located in the area. These churches are very well-known and recognizable even by tourists. By grouping the restaurants by neighborhood, the travel guide naturally takes the reader throughout the unique layout of the city of Florence.
Slow Copenhagen & Slow Barcelona
These two cities are hubs of the Slow Food Movement as well. After researching the niche dishes in each place and understanding the slow process in the production of the dishes, I depict platees that are popular in those regions of the country.
The Copenhagen cover shows of the Danish dish, smørrebrød (open-face sandwich) with herring. The back has the Danish dessert aebleskiver (sweet pancake balls).
The Barcelona cover depicts paella (saffron rice) with prawns, The back presents a Spanish dessert, crema Catalana (lemon and cinnamon infused custard).
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