One Block North

Branding
Copywriting

Stories from the Saddle Book Design for a GTA Cycling Culture Project

Project Snapshot

  • Client

    : Christine Bruce

  • Industry

    : Museums, Heritage & Storytelling

  • Services

    : Book Design · Art Direction · Image Editing · Layout Design

  • Challenge

    : Transform a collection of everyday cycling stories, interviews and mismatched images into a cohesive book that celebrated the culture and characters of cycling in the Greater Toronto Area.

  • Outcome

    : A beautifully designed book that organized 60 rider stories into a cohesive visual narrative celebrating everyday cycling in the Greater Toronto Area.

Avid cyclist Christine Bruce had the notion of writing a book on cycling and cyclists. While researching her project, she left hundreds of “invitation to chat” cards tucked onto bikes of every description. Thanks to an enthusiastic response, she interviewed nearly 150 bicycle riders, among them couriers, activists, mechanics, politicians, bike builders and more. After much editing and soul searching, she winnowed the manuscript down to a collection of 60 of these stories. Through a similar act of serendipity, she connected with an equally avid cyclist and principal at Overdrive Design, James Wilson. Overdrive took Bruce’s manuscript and a mismatched collection of images and designed a beautiful book that celebrates everyday cycling in the Greater Toronto area.

Exploded photograph of bicycle parts staged and photographed by Overdrive Design for the Overdrive website, featuring the book One Block North in the centre.
The book One Block North by Christine Bruce designed by Overdrive.
Inside spread from One Block north pages 16-17 showing the author Christine Bruce with her bike, photo by Antonia Goga/Overdrive Design.
Photo spread from One Block North of bike trick, cyclist high in air.
Inside spread from One Block North about winter cycling.
Photo spread from One Block North showing a ghost bike and protesters with signage reading "A cyclist was killed here last week".
Fold out inside back cover of One Block North showing A cyclists' map to the city of Toronto.
Checkerboard of bike images and bike icons from One Block North.

Design – Overdrive Design
Photography – Various

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