An artist’s book which collects and presents the results of a three-year research project by Magali Reus on the visual and calligraphic relationship between letterforms and scraps of red cabbage.

The typeface ‘KOOL’ (‘cabbage’ in Dutch) is a working typeface containing a Latin alphabet of upper and lowercase letters, a full set of numerals, 16 punctuation marks and 6 additional symbols, split between 3 combinable layers – Flesh, Shade and Silhouette – each abstractedly exploded throughout the layout.

The publication itself takes cues from traditional type specimens, with waterfalls of comparative words, and features an essay on display typography by design historian, Emily King, plus a story and recipes by food specialist, Rebecca May Johnson.

The book is printed in black and three Pantone colours onto a range of warm white and coloured stocks, featuring tipped in gloss photographs of Reus’ cabbage compositions that punctuate the layout.

A cabbage-purple thread ties it all together, covered with a fabric strip over the spine.

The print is then encased within a green ‘napkin’ style jacket, created from a textile-embossed paper that is intricately hand folded to create a table-setting inspired pocket.