ACADEMIC
EDITORIAL
Spinettos: Family Cookbook
A design thesis and archive translating handwritten family recipes into modern typographic layouts.
TIMELINE
Spring 2026
SOFTWARE
Illustrator, InDesign + Riso
STATUS
Completed
Project Overview
Translating Family Heritage into Modern Typography
As part of the final spring semester of the BFA Graphic Design program, this senior thesis represents the culmination of a project concept four years in the making. The thesis offered an opportunity to synthesize years of technical skill, typographic study, and visual storytelling into a singular, highly personal body of work.
Spinetto’s is a custom culinary collection and archival cookbook created as a senior thesis project. The project explores how family history and personal memories are preserved not just in formal documents, but in the everyday rituals of cooking and gathering.
BFA GRAPHIC DESIGN SENIOR THESIS SHOW
Research
The Living Archive
My research blended family history with a study of modern cookbook design to make sure the final book felt both authentic and easy to use. First, I cataloged and digitized decades of old family papers: recipe scraps written on index cards, graph paper, and grocery receipts. I made sure to preserve all the quirky handwritten notes and old-fashioned terms (like "oleo").
Cookbook Inspiration
At the same time, I studied professional, modern cookbooks to see how they organize information. This helped me design clean layouts, pick fonts, and create a recipe structure that works smoothly on a busy kitchen counter.
Cultural + Heritage Context Through Film
I incorporated 35mm film photographs I had shot the semester prior. The rich grain and natural focus of the film captured the authentic, intimate atmosphere of family gatherings.
Design
Custom Stamp System
My research blended family history with a study of modern cookbook design to make sure the final book felt both authentic and easy to use. First, I cataloged and digitized decades of old family papers: recipe scraps written on index cards, graph paper, and grocery receipts. I made sure to preserve all the quirky handwritten notes and old-fashioned terms (like "oleo").
At the same time, I studied professional, modern cookbooks to see how they organize information. This helped me design clean layouts, pick fonts, and create a recipe structure that works smoothly on a busy kitchen counter.
Typography & Layout Systems
I developed a flexible grid layout in InDesign that gives every recipe a clear, functional hierarchy. To connect the design to Italian print history and art history, I used high-contrast, classic serif headlines paired with a clean, modern sans-serif for the ingredients and steps—making the recipes effortless to read while cooking.
Publication & Printing
To bring Spinetto's from the screen to the page, I worked with Mixam to print and bind the final cookbook. I carefully selected paper weights, finishes, and binding that were tough enough for real kitchen mess. I ordered a batch for my family, turning years of scattered scraps into a practical and sentimental physical book.
Exhibition
Graphic Design BFA Thesis Show
To make my BFA Senior Thesis exhibition feel complete, I built a full gallery display around the cookbook using matching design pieces. I designed physical recipe cards, printed menus, and hung posters that told the story behind the family recipes. Arranging these pieces alongside the framed archival scraps transformed my booth into an inviting space that brought the warmth of a home kitchen straight into the gallery.
