Turning hangover cures into a giftable cookbook

Hardie Grant Books commissioned Hangover Helper by Lauren Shockey, a cookbook of global recipes designed to soothe the morning after. Aimed at the gifting market, the brief called for a playful, high-energy design that would stand out both on-shelf and online.

We led art direction, design, and commissioning illustration, creating a unified identity that stretched from the cover through to the supporting website. Every element was designed to feel fun, bold, and instantly giftable.

The cover sets the tone: embossed type nestled between two breakfast buns, with spot UV yolks and gold foil melted cheese. Inside, typography remains lively, while each recipe is rated for hangover difficulty, brought to life through icons of hands holding headache pills.

We commissioned illustrator Sophie Melissa to create bright, colourful artwork for every recipe, alongside striking chapter openers. To complement this, our in-house team developed additional spot illustrations across different themes, keeping the pages fresh and unexpected.

To support the launch, we designed and built a dedicated website that showcased the book and Lauren’s broader writing. The digital platform extended the project’s playful identity into a new space.

Hangover Helper stands out in the gift market with its bold design and inventive illustration — lifting spirits before the first bite.