An Indescribable Beauty
Client: Awa Press
Book design, 2013
An Indescribable Beauty gathers the vivid and heartfelt letters of Friedrich August Krull, a young German settler who arrived in New Zealand in 1859. Writing to his family in Germany, Krull paints a rich portrait of early colonial life in Wellington and the surrounding regions.
His letters recount his deep appreciation of the natural beauty, encounters with Māori communities, and observations of colonial society’s challenges and opportunities. Krull’s unique outsider perspective offers striking insights into race relations, indigenous culture, and the immigrant experience during a pivotal era in New Zealand history. Translated for the first time, these letters open a powerful window into a lost world.
Honors and awards
PANZ Book Design Awards, 2013
Highly Commended: Best Illustrated Book
Highly Commended: Best Typography
Highly Commended: Best Typography
Judges’ Comments: Greg Simpson’s use of blackletter for a historical text, but with a modern twist, really has turned what could have been a predictable non-fiction design into a treasure. We love this handsome little volume, with its hardback quarterbound cover and uncoated thick stock. We particularly loved the simplicity of it, and the dainty placement of the photos throughout.
