Era of the Solopreneur
Book design from graphic design studios HyperPension and Golden Bell Temple for Seungwon Go, the developer, writer and investor. The book has 376 pages and measures 124×188 mm. Printed on E-light 80g/m² paper. This publication consists of two components: the slipcase and the book itself. Removing the gray slipcase reveals a lemon-yellow book cover, symbolizing a “transition into a new era.”
Both parts use BN Hightide in mixed case for English titles. BN Hightide, a heavy geometric sans serif with low contrast, conveys the stoic presence of a solopreneur—an individual whose output rivals that of a corporation. This robust typeface anchors the bottom of the cover, lending a sense of balance and stability to the layout. As a secondary typeface, Neue Haas Grotesk was used—one of my go-to choices for its refined construction and reliable tone. With its pronounced contrast in stroke weight, it stands out clearly from BN Hightide on the sleeve, creating a distinct typographic hierarchy.
I also wanted a sense of humanity to surface gently and naturally through the visuals in this book. To that end, I incorporated hand-drawn illustrations from early 20th-century encyclopedias across each chapter, including the cover. These images effectively “soften” the rigid tone created by the sans serif typefaces.
For the body text, I used Sandoll Gothic Neo1, while the navigational arrows throughout the book are set in the dingbat font Arrows TFB. Dunbar Tall, used for page numbers, adds a lively rhythm to the overall layout.
