BOOK DESIGN is the art of merging content and design into an integrated and dynamic visual language. During a visit to the Folk Art Museum of Santa Fe in 2019, I was deeply moved by the retrospective show of Alexander Girard, one of America’s great, mid-century modern designers. I was inspired by his playful, universal designs, his “striving for something a little more spiritual that would create in our minds a sense of peace”.

Connecting with Gerard’s work reminded me of the Genjōkōan, written in 1233 by the founder of the Soto school of Japanese Zen Buddhism, Dōgen Zenji. Having studied this seminal text I discovered a lively connection between the visual clarity of Girard’s images and the penetrating wisdom of Dōgen’s teaching.

Despite disparate cultures and times, both Girard and Dōgen Zenji were visionary geniuses offering transformative views of the world. 

In exploring the relationship between these two masters, I created this book with the hope that it may be a source of joy and inspiration.