Designed through a pandemic
Just before the Covid-19 lockdown at the beginning of 2020, Kate Peers owner of Department Store for the Mind approached me with an idea she had to create a mindfulness journal and the ball rolled. The deadline was 22nd of May. Lockdown then hit and we contacted Kate offering to park the project for the future. Business plans and personal pressures all turned upside down for everyone, I figured this would be at the bottom of her to do list now. I was also mindful of the deadline not being able to be met with printers given the circumstances. No was her simple response. There is no better time during a time of crisis to produce something of this nature, as Kate puts it that will ‘will leave you feeling lighter, clearer and more empowered and will help you to unwind your wonderful mind’.
Designed through a pandemic
Just before the Covid-19 lockdown at the beginning of 2020, Kate Peers owner of Department Store for the Mind approached Studio Cowx with an idea she had to create a mindfulness journal and the ball rolled. The deadline was 22nd of May. Lockdown then hit and we contacted Kate offering to park the project for the future. Business plans and personal pressures all turned upside down for everyone, we figured this would be at the bottom of her to do list now. We was also mindful of the deadline not being able to be met with printers given the circumstances. No was her simple response. There is no better time during a time of crisis to produce something of this nature, as Kate puts it that will ‘will leave you feeling lighter, clearer and more empowered and will help you to unwind your wonderful mind’.
So here it is. I couldn’t be more proud of the end result and of Kate’s pure determination to see the project through at a time when she could have chosen to batten down the hatches.
So here it is and we couldn’t be more proud of the end result and of Kate’s pure determination to see the project through at a time when she could have chosen to batten down the hatches.
Designed with thought in mind
The layout and placement of images and text had to be considered on a level that wasn’t just about the book looking great, but it also needed to flow and be purposeful.
The content of the journal flows around thirteen ‘Thinking Tricks’, or in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) these are called distortions.
‘Writing these thinking tricks down as and when they come to us…’ says Kate ‘…can stop them going on repeat in our heads and start to have more control over what we think and how we engage with the world around us in a more positive way with a brighter outlook.’
Designed with thought in mind
The layout and placement of images and text had to be considered on a level that wasn’t just about the book looking great, but it also needed to flow and be purposeful.
The content of the journal flows around thirteen ‘Thinking Tricks’, or in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) these are called distortions.
‘Writing these thinking tricks down as and when they come to us…’ says Kate ‘…can stop them going on repeat in our heads and start to have more control over what we think and how we engage with the world around us in a more positive way with a brighter outlook.’
‘Importantly these prompts are not overwhelming or complicated and they don’t require time or commitment, they are there purely to guide and provide a framework and offer structure in a gentle way for each individual.’
‘Importantly these prompts are not overwhelming or complicated and they don’t require time or commitment, they are there purely to guide and provide a framework and offer structure in a gentle way for each individual.’
Designed to break habits
As Kate puts it, ‘This journal is for everyone. It is a simple yet effective journal designed to help you break free from common negative thinking habits or thinking tricks which can often result in feeling sad, worried, angry or stressed.’
Designed to break habits
As Kate puts it, ‘This journal is for everyone. It is a simple yet effective journal designed to help you break free from common negative thinking habits or thinking tricks which can often result in feeling sad, worried, angry or stressed.’
‘Whether you flick through the pages or read cover to cover, page by page, Unwind Your Mind provides practical tools and prompts via carefully chosen words and corresponding beautiful illustrations which bring those words to life.’
Designed to be flexible
‘On each page throughout the journal there is space to write as much or as little as you wish.’
‘Whether you flick through the pages or read cover to cover, page by page, Unwind Your Mind provides practical tools and prompts via carefully chosen words and corresponding beautiful illustrations which bring those words to life.’
Designed to be flexible
‘On each page throughout the journal there is space to write as much or as little as you wish.’
I would like to thank the authors; Kate Peers (Department Store For The Mind owner and writer), Emily Graves (Writer, yoga and mindfulness teacher) and Ruth Williams (psychologist and thought leader) for the opportunity to be a part of their journal’s journey.
The journal is available to buy at The Department Store for the Mind. £1 from the sale of every copy going to Mind Charity for Mental Health.
Studio Cowx would like to thank the authors; Kate Peers (Department Store For The Mind owner and writer), Emily Graves (Writer, yoga and mindfulness teacher) and Ruth Williams (psychologist and thought leader) for the opportunity to be a part of their journal’s journey.
The journal is available to buy at The Department Store for the Mind. £1 from the sale of every copy going to Mind Charity for Mental Health.
Photography by Wildblume Imagery, Sarah Lou Francis.
Illustrations by Veronica Wood and Marc Johns.
Photography by Wildblume Imagery, Sarah Lou Francis.
Illustrations by Veronica Wood and Marc Johns.