Designing a visual guide to hidden knowledge

Commissioned by Quarto Books’ The Bright Press for Thames & Hudson, we designed Symbols of the Occult by Eric Chaline. The book decodes the fascinating origins and meanings of over 500 signs and symbols — from the myths and legends of the ancient world to the icons used in modern culture and science.

We designed the cover and internal spreads, creating a layout that could hold a large volume of entries while remaining highly browsable and visually striking.

A bold typographic framework and striking iconography anchor the design, with clean layouts that allow each symbol and its context to be clearly understood. The result is a book that feels both encyclopaedic and visually compelling, appealing equally to curious readers and design-minded audiences.

By combining scholarly content with a bold, accessible design, the book opens up complex symbolism to a wider audience, making intricate ideas easy to navigate and engaging to explore.