E D I T O R I A L
SHWJ
Book design & illustration
The Housing Foundation for Working Youth’s (SHWJ: Stichting Huisvesting werkende jongeren) celebrated its 50th anniversary on 15 July 2020. I was asked to create an anniversary book on the history of this special foundation. I put together a team consisting of: Taalwerkplaats (text), Jorg Rozier and Martin van Rijn (photography) and Puntgaaf Drukwerk (the printing) and did the design, art direction and project management myself.
In addition to a history of the foundation, we decided to paint a period picture in order to emphasise the social relevance of the organisation (then and now). Furthermore, we felt it was important to imprint the personal aspect by telling the stories of a selection of residents from the past half century.
In the end, we created the book based on 10 themes: Despair and housing shortage, The Centre as a Testing Ground, Hovels and Castles, Striking Metamorphoses, Functional vs Handsome, Living by the Water, Living in the Green, Outdoor Spaces to Relax, Living Trends and The Social Heart of the Foundation.
The result is a visually dazzling book with a playfull design that (despite being 50 years of age) reflects the youthfull character of this unique organization.
