Morangos Mofados

Editorial

This is an editorial design project for a special edition commemorating the 40th anniversary of the book "Morangos Mofados", the acclaimed masterpiece by the writer Caio Fernando Abreu, originally published in 1982. The project was developed as an academic work for the Visual Project III discipline at UFRGS.

The Conceptual Challenge

The challenge was to create a redesign that would function as a special commemorative edition, translating the complexity of the work for an audience of young adults and adults. The work is divided into three parts ("The Mofo", "The Strawberries" and "Morangos Mofados") and is known for its chaotic, complex and melancholic tales. The design needed to be "attractive and very strong", while reflecting the central concept of "chaos and abstraction".

The Design Solution

A complete editorial project was developed that contrasts clean layout with chaotic visual elements, creating a unique reading experience that reflects the duality of the book.

1. The Cover has a Visual Metaphor: The cover was the central point of the concept. It features a human head from which a strawberry plantation sprouts. The metaphor has a double interpretation:

Hope: Strawberries symbolize hope, based on the protagonist's desire to plant them at the end of the work as a symbol of renewal. The image represents "a person planting hope in their mind".
Melancholy: The title "Morangos Mofados" subverts this hope. He suggests that the hope planted "ended up molding, that is, dying", reflecting the essentially sad tone of most of the stories.

2. The Tactile and Visual Experience: The project was designed to be a special edition. The cover uses a bright red color and a matte finish. This finish provides a "soft touch", tactically reminiscent of the texture of a peach and creating a sensorial connection with the fruit theme. The color palette is restricted to black and two shades of red: a bright one and a darker, "faded" one, which alludes to mold.

3. The Counterpoint: Chaos vs. Order: The most important design decision was the counterpoint between content and form.

Chaos (Content): To reflect the "complex and chaotic" tales, the opening illustrations of each tale are purposely "scribbled and noisy", appearing abstract and chaotic. The second and third covers also explore this aesthetic with experimental typography.
Order (Layout): In direct contrast, the text layout is "clean, simple, organized and easy". The project uses a clear layout grid, generous margins and an elegant serif typography (Electra LT Std) on Pólen Bold 90g paper, ensuring reading comfort and creating an organized space for the book's thematic chaos.