Filbert Press commissioned Naturalistic Planting Design by Nigel Dunnett, one of the world’s leading voices on sustainable and creative planting. Known for projects including the London 2012 Olympic Park and Chelsea Flower Show, Nigel’s work is celebrated for blending beauty with ecological value.
Our role
We led design, ensuring the book reflected Nigel’s distinctive approach while making his expertise accessible to a wide readership. The ambition was to celebrate a unique design philosophy in a format that felt both authoritative and inspiring.
Celebrating a unique approach
Our design captured the juxtapositions in Nigel’s work — the meeting of naturalistic planting with built environments. Typography was chosen deliberately to carry meaning, including a typeface that echoed the Barbican’s Brutalist architecture, contrasting with the lush planting schemes he created for the arts centre.
Adding pace and punctuation
To provide rhythm and variety, we gave each case study its own section, punctuated with purple backgrounds, illustrated plans, and diagrams. These elements allowed readers to pause, absorb key details, and appreciate the scale and creativity of Nigel’s projects.
Impact
The book presents Nigel Dunnett’s planting philosophy in a visually rich, accessible way, cementing his reputation as a pioneer in ecological design.
