Lekol Haruhot
Responsive e-commerce website
An exclusive and elegant shop dedicated to the independent publisher that operated in Israel between 2012-2015. A project inspired by the love of the written word that is the cornerstone of the publisher.
UI and UX design
”
As book lovers, we have a passion for sharing
inner worlds and sharing what the book has done for us
Key features
Zikit is a unique publisher that requires a unique website. The boutique independent publisher sets its high quality standard using three concepts which I identified as the leading ideas of the project’s visual language.
Literature
The passion for literature was the first and foremost element in the design. The publisher seeks out hidden literary gems from all over the world and translates from various languages to elevate their passion for the written word.
Art
The publisher holds a clear visual language across different publications. Each cover is characterized by a single, clear color and standardized dimensions. These help the shopper identify the book and the publisher at a glance, and the visual language became synonymous with the publisher's high-quality mark.
Printed Magazine
Another important element of the publisher’s visual language is the unique cover illustrations assigned to the books. The woodcut print technique invokes a classical and traditional image of the early days of print and bookmaking, and each print refers directly to the book and is inspired by the author and story.
The old website
The old website is a product of its time. For today’s eyes, it is overcrowded with color and information, and it is hard to navigate and understand at a glance. Additionally, I felt that the overall tone is too general and doesn’t do enough to emphasize the uniqueness of the publisher’s well-established visual language.
The website: Home page
In my design approach, I wanted to achieve a clean look that invokes the experience of walking through the shelves of a boutique bookstore, allowing an approachable tour of the atmosphere.
Elements
I worked toward incorporation of the three key features of the publisher: a design that builds upon the color-code of the book covers, borrowing from the beautiful hand-printed illustrations, and above all - a design that invites the viewer to celebrate the written word.
Literature
The first element visible in the home page is a quote from the Zikit’s first publication: Parnassus on Wheels, a book about a passion for books. A quote about the love of books and the simplicity of books that sets the tone for navigating through the collection. The message is clear: the viewer is welcomed to a world of books. Similarly, the prominent font chosen for headings and quotes throughout the site is a serif font, invoking another association to printed books.
Illustration
For each book published, Zikit commissioned a unique hand printed illustration by illustrator Neta Hemo. To enhance its effect, I expanded upon the existing illustrations with my contribution, drawing from the history of the arts. The intention is to show another glimpse of the product and help draw in the costumer. The experience I sought to invoke was browsing through the shelves and gaining hints toward a secret world.
Product page
The inspiration behind the product page design is the act of skimming through a book next to the shelf, appreciating the language and the feelings it invokes. Every product page is an attempt to capture the unique feel of each book and uses the book’s assigned color scheme and the visual style of the illustration.
Product page
The inspiration behind the product page design is the act of skimming through a book next to the shelf, appreciating the language and the feelings it invokes. Every product page is an attempt to capture the unique feel of each book and uses the book’s assigned color scheme and the visual style of the illustration.
Product page
The inspiration behind the product page design is the act of skimming through a book next to the shelf, appreciating the language and the feelings it invokes. Every product page is an attempt to capture the unique feel of each book and uses the book’s assigned color scheme and the visual style of the illustration.
