Apple Danish Braid Recipe Book
A step-by-step recipe designed to instruct others how to prepare a delicious apple danish braid. The emphasis for this project is on the underlying development and interpretation of the process.
This project was awarded Design Excellence at the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University for the class Visual Communication III (GRA 361) in the fall of 2019.
All parts were laser cut, printed, wood stained, and assembled by hand
Illustrator / InDesign / Photoshop / Lightroom
8 x 5.5 inches, print
The Challenge
To better develop visual processes without relying on words, I was tasked to communicate the step-by-step process of creating a meal. While the steps of a recipe might seem simplistic, the method to successfully communicate the order was not so straightforward.
The Outcome
A detailed and consistent visual system was key throughout this problem. I found that establishing the visual key in the ingredients and utensils helped to maintain this understanding from the beginning of the design. The visual system evolved from using only black and white to including multiple colors to aid the cook in comprehending each step.
The Method
It was necessary to take a step back and think about each step of the execution of the process of preparing a meal. Each “stage” in the recipe is made of numerous smaller steps which all needed to be included. I drew inspiration from my old days of sifting through piles of Lego sets to my current days of IKEA manuals.
An instruction manual for a Death Star or a NORDKISA table are also essentially recipes, just for 3D objects. With this mindset, deconstructing complex “stages” from a recipe and representing this process visually was much easier. Physically making the Apple Danish Braid also gave me insight to each nuanced step throughout the recipe (not to mention delicious fuel for late nights).
To the kitchen!
To better understand the details of the steps for the recipe, I took the apple danish braid off the computer and into the kitchen. Actually making the recipe made me notice small motions I otherwise would have missed.
So delicious! It has eggs and milk in it so that means it’s healthy, right?
This project was deeply inspired by my late grandparents’ love for cooking and crafting. The wooden box is a dedication to Grandpop, who loved working with his hands and who always had a way to make you laugh. The paper and recipe chosen are a dedication to Grammie, who first showed my tastebuds the wonders of pastry with her rustic flair.