Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung: The Political Cookbook – 100 Years, 100 Places, 100 Recipes
Democracy That Tastes Good!
Visual storytelling for the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung's anniversary cookbook, featuring international recipes and the social stories behind them
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How do you make democratic values tangible and human? To mark its 100th anniversary, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung commissioned Ellery Studio to design a special cookbook: 100 recipes from FES locations around the world, accompanied by “table talks” about democracy and solidarity. We developed the visual concept that combines culinary pleasure with social discourse and builds bridges between cultures.
The Challenge
Gastrodiplomacy as a Recipe Against Populism?
In 2025, democracy is under pressure worldwide. Populist movements are gaining ground, and trust in political institutions is eroding. In this social climate, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung wanted to not just celebrate its 100th anniversary, but use it as a moment of repositioning. Alongside the anniversary, the foundation is modernizing its entire visual identity, leaning more heavily into social democracy's signature red, and looking for ways to become more present digitally. The cookbook was meant to be one of the first products of this new visual era, while also daring to take a bold step: instead of relying on classic brochures and conferences, FES uses the principle of gastrodiplomacy. Food opens people up, builds community, and carries values in a way that overcomes barriers.
Deliverables
What We Delivered
Our design concept is built on a two-voice dialogue: on the left, the sensory reality of food photography; on the right, the narrative abstraction of our illustrations. We developed a stencil-like style with reduced color palettes that visually translates political narratives without resorting to cultural stereotypes. Every spread follows a dramaturgical triad of emotional entry point, functional layer, and cultural context. The result: a 224-page book that reads equally well as a cookbook, an educational resource, and a diplomatic instrument.
1
Illustration Concept Rooted in Cultural Diversity
Development of a reduced screen-print style with deliberately abstracted forms that represents cultural diversity without stereotypes. Around 75 illustrations translate political table talks into a universal visual language that invites people from all over the world without pigeonholing anyone.
2
Editorial Design and Layout System
Layout system for 112 spreads built on a clear grid. Integrates recipes, table talks, and food photography into a coherent narrative.
3
Cover Design
An inviting, internationally legible design that communicates both the culinary and political dimensions equally.
4
Promotional Materials
A range of postcards featuring individual dishes for marketing and events as part of the anniversary campaign.
Illustration as a Bridge Between Cultures
How do you visualize abstract concepts like democracy or solidarity without falling into cultural clichés? Our illustration style for the FES cookbook deliberately uses reduced forms and colors. Instead of concrete faces or explicit ethnic markers, we work with symbolic elements: steaming pots for community, interconnected shapes for solidarity, dynamic compositions for social change. This abstraction creates room for interpretation and lets people from a wide range of backgrounds see themselves reflected in it. At the same time, it carries the emotional essence of political messages in a way that overcomes barriers.
Editorial Design as an Enabler of Complex Content
A cookbook featuring political "table talks" places special demands on design. How do you bring functional recipe information together with socio-political texts without letting them compete with each other? Our layout system is built on a strict grid that creates orientation. Through deliberate color-coding and typographic hierarchies, we guide readers through different layers of content. The "table talks" aren't perceived as a foreign body, but as a natural part of the culinary journey. In this way, editorial design becomes an enabler: it doesn't just make complex, multi-layered content accessible – it creates new layers of meaning.
