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Special Project: A Hardcover Portrait as a Birthday Gift

Context

A colleague approached me with an idea: create a truly personal gift for his mother's 50th birthday — something meaningful for someone who already has everything. He took on the role of chief editor; I joined as content producer, alongside art director and designer Arina.

The Work

We shaped the concept together: a magazine-style portrait of an accomplished woman seen through her different roles — mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend.

I conducted interviews with her family and friends, then wrote and edited their stories into a single, cohesive narrative — preserving each voice while building one unified arc.

Style

The design drew from women's magazines like Gentlewoman, woven with her favorite colors. To add a diary-like intimacy, illustrator Anna created original drawings throughout the book.

Results

The book made the birthday girl and her friends cry, and earned a public review from the client on LinkedIn.

Client's feedback

Serafima — sharp, soulful, and a natural storyteller — spoke with everyone who's been a part of my mother's life, turning interviews into something luminous and deeply human." — Danil Moratsev, Art Director at HelloFresh via LinkedIn