A beautiful obsession in print
Filbert Press commissioned A Beautiful Obsession: Jimi Blake’s World of Plants at Hunting Brook Gardens by Jimi Blake and Noel Kingsbury — a book that captures the exuberance and eccentricity of one of Ireland’s most exciting gardens. Our task was to reflect Jimi’s eclectic planting style through a design language as bold as the gardens themselves.
Our role
We led art direction, design, and illustration commissioning, creating a visual identity that mirrored the book’s energy and originality. From the cover to the closing plant directory, every element was crafted to communicate obsession, playfulness, and personality.
A vibrant design language
The cover layers imagery of Jimi at work, conveying his care and imagination. Inside, bold section breaks and spot illustrations by Hello Marine capture his eclectic style — and his equally distinctive wardrobe. Playful typography, curved captions, and pull-out spreads create pace, while lookbook-style pages showcase his vast collections of salvias and dahlias. A directory-like finale, led by caption mono type, brings structure to the abundance.
Impact
The book has been praised for its striking design and distinctive tone in the gardening press, recognised for how its contemporary page design amplifies the gardens themselves.
“The eye-catching contemporary page design does much to contribute to the mood here.”
The English Garden
“I’d like to thank... Studio Noel for the really funky design – I so appreciate having my name on a garden book that looks so distinctly different!”
Noel Kingsbury, Author
“Jimi’s sheer passion for plants shines through this book.”
Ruth Chivers, Sunday Telegraph
