The Romanian Bookshelf

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In collaboration with Patricia Becus
Project Type: Branding, Webdesign

Branded an initiative to promote Romanian literature in translation.

Background

Only about 3% of the literature published in the United States is translated. According to the Publishers Weekly translation database, fewer than 70 Romanian books have been translated into English since 2008.

In response, Romanian Bookshelf was created to mobilize support and resources for Romanian literature in translation. The first step was romanianbookshelf.com—a first-of-its-kind Romanian catalogue showcasing translated titles alongside contributor insights and commentary. It aims to surface new voices and foster discovery.

Romanian Bookshelf continues to collaborate with translators, publishers, authors, grantmakers, and cultural institutions—seeking to bring more Romanian titles to readers’ shelves. More to come.

Visual Identity

The intent behind the visual identity is to reclaim and reframe familiar cultural symbols—offering a fresh lens on Romanian literature in translation.

At its center stands the porcelain ballerina figurine: a once-kitschy household item from the heyday of local literature—just ask any Eastern European grandma—now reimagined with quiet elegance. Her open arms, poised and unassuming, serve as a symbolic invitation to explore the depth and nuance of Romanian storytelling.

The color palette is drenched in blue—a deliberate reworking of old communist-era propaganda, which once framed blue as “the wealth of our sea and rivers.” Here, blue is reclaimed as a symbol of flow, access, and openness.

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