EMILIA ABOUT

DOLCE Y DULCE
BOOK DESIGN

Credits: iStock Philip Stewart. The new church in Tapalpa, Jalisco, Mexico, with colorful banners of papel picado in the foreground, left over from the Dia de Muertos celebration.
Credit: Emilia Piazza. Italian outdoor market street with people shopping under striped umbrellas and old buildings.
Credit: iStock: Oksana Ermak Stack of sfogliatella pastries with powdered sugar on a decorative blue ceramic plate.
Credit: Emilia Piazza. Detail image showing the handmade aspect and texture of the bright red linen handmade case of Dolce y Dulce
credit CHAT GPT stacked bomboloni with dulce de leche filling
Credit Emilia Piazza. Red hardcover Dolce y Dulce cookbook with a patterned half-sleeve featuring a pink flower and colorful blue, yellow, and green designs.

DOLCE Y DULCE
BOOK DESIGN

Page Layout
Editorial Design
Book Binding

MANDATE

Conceptualize, design, and bind a fully illustrated cookbook, accompanied by its e-book and website. Develop a cohesive visual and narrative identity, including a cover design and a curated selection of recipe spreads.

THE CONCEPT

Dolce y Dulce is inspired by the blend of Italian heritage and Mexican warmth, two cultures where dessert plays a central role in gathering and celebration around the table. The concept draws from the richness of Italian pastry traditions and the vibrancy and generosity found in Mexican culture, bringing them together through recipes that blend both culinary identities into delightful tradition-inspired fusion recipes.

Credit: Death to Stock Window with black wrought iron bars and lush plants hanging outside on turquoise textured wall.
Credit: Death to Stock. Small Italian cafe entrance with white awning that reads 'Al Caffè' and open wooden doors on a street.
Credit Istock: Frederico Faccipieri Woman icing white cake with red icing.

INTENDED AUDIENCE

Developed for experienced bakers who enjoy spending time in the kitchen, Dolce y Dulce’s recipes are designed as day-long processes, some requiring up to 24 hours including preparation and setting time. The intention is to begin baking in the morning, and present a finished dessert for a family gathering later in the day.

A THOUGHTFUL DETAIL

The cookbook cover’s hand-painted gouache illustration draws inspiration from Guanajuato, Mexico, incorporating Talavera-style illustrations with bright colors and floral motifs. The design visually bridges the two cultures, inviting readers into the recipes while connecting the tactile and visual experience of the book to the joy of sharing traditional desserts.

DESIGN PROCESS

The creative direction reflects the warmth, color, and vibrancy of both cultures, capturing the spirit of family gatherings. Each spread highlights textures, ingredients, and the traditions behind the desserts, shaping an inviting and celebratory visual language. This cultural richness informed the choice of a handmade sewn binding, emphasizing a personal, tactile experience that mirrors the care and patience required in baking.

Credit: Emilia Piazza. Close-up of open cookbook showing a page with text and a photo of a baked pastry.
Credit Emilia Piazza. Close up of Dolce y Dulce cookbook with a patterned half-sleeve featuring a pink flower and colorful blue, yellow, and green designs.
Credit: Emilia Piazza. Open cookbook page showing a Classic Mexican Flan recipe and a photo of flan on a white plate.
Credit: Jamie Gianfelice. Colorful italian homes with orange, turquoise, and red walls, small windows, and tiled roofs.

THE SOLUTION

Dolce y Dulce brings together Italian and Mexican dessert traditions through colorful illustrations, clear typography, and a handmade sewn binding. The red cloth case with linen thread adds a personal, tactile touch that reflects the care and passion in both cultures’ desserts. Inside, the recipe pages and imagery celebrate family, culture, and the joy of baking, creating an experience that goes beyond recipes to capture the warmth and sweetness of sharing these moments with others.