3CycleCup: Sip Sustainable

This book design project is based on my research into creating a sustainable system for China’s coffee industry. I have translated this research into an experimental visual publication. The cover is made of recycled paper that retains the texture and slight imperfections of the fibres. Real coffee rings and dripping stains are printed onto the surface to create a natural texture, which is then layered with coarse halftone imagery to give the material a quality that sits somewhere between an experimental zine and a fieldwork notebook. A hand-crafted visual narrative connects the research data, case studies, and analytical findings, making the full report more engaging and warm while turning issues such as 'single-use coffee cups' and 'plastic pollution' into tangible traces in the reader’s hands.
The book deliberately adopts an almost pure black-and-white palette: there are no high-saturation colours to distract from the content, only black and white carrying all text, imagery and information hierarchies. This restrained use of colour helps readers focus on the research framework, data and interview material. Large fields of solid black resemble oil spilled across the naturally textured paper, and, together with high-contrast imagery, allude to the connection between oil and plastic and their impact on the environment. Black and white are not only an aesthetic choice, but also a way to concentrate attention and embed the project’s core metaphor deeply in the reader’s mind.
In terms of layout, a rigorous grid system organizes chapters, diagrams and case-study texts, while bold, brush-like titles and slightly handwritten letterforms create rhythm and guide the reader between rational analysis and emotional resonance. Through this book design, I aim to transform an originally academic report into a visual object that invites browsing, collecting and discussion—both a systematic mapping of plastic pollution and coffee culture, and an attempt to reshape the reading experience of sustainability issues through a black-and-white editorial form.