Legacy

The self-funded studio book - a long tradition

The tradition of design studios creating their own books sits somewhere between self-promotion, publishing and creative independence. 

Produced independently of clients, studio books demonstrate how designers can use publishing as a form of authorship in its own right, creating a space to experiment with typography, image-making and production without the commercial and creative constraints applying to client commissions. 

These publications sit in specialist libraries, design-school collections and independent bookshops, on coffee-shop tables or in the hands of young creatives looking for inspiration and reassurance. Where some books are ephemeral and culturally time specific, studio books are enduring by nature, offering an ever valuable insight into creative minds and practice that inspire - no matter the decade.

The Whitenoise studio book series

For 26 years, Whitenoise has created self-published books for the love of it. They create space to step away from client briefs, pressing deadlines and expectations, and simply create for the joy of creating. It’s the place where our team has complete freedom to explore ideas and tell meaningful stories in their own way.

Legacy - Whitenoise's tenth self published studio book

In 2026, we’re continuing that tradition with the aptly named Book 10: Legacy. An anthology sharing stories of lesser-known, yet incredibly influential people from across Northern Ireland. elebrating this series (or decology, if you will), we decided to choose "Legacy" as our theme and reflect on what that means for us as a studio and as individuals.

Legacy features 38 change makers, celebrating their small victories, personal triumphs and determination in the face of setbacks, but most of all the act of leaving a place better than you found it.

The allure of a printed book 

Vanity, exploration or promotion?

Where agencies have the financial means and the drive to create, a studio book can become a genuinely multifunctional asset.

Vanity

Vanity is probably the most honest place to begin when describing the motivating factors for a self-funded studio book like Legacy. It gives a studio like Whitenoise permission to produce art without the usual constraints of a brief, budget or client approval process: to decide for itself what deserves attention, how it should be presented and when it is finished. In becoming its own client, editor and publisher, Whitenoise can exercise skills that may be less visible - or less frequently utilised - in our typical commissioned work. This is vanity in its most productive form: not simply a desire to be seen for no reason, but a determination to define how the studio sees itself and presents to the world.

Creative expression

Aside from vanity, Whitenoise books have always been a powerful vehicle for creative expression, and often a significant point of pride for the people involved. Being included in a printed publication can feel like a lasting acknowledgement of someone’s contribution to a time in the studio's history. An object they can keep, share and point to as a marker of personal growth and achievement: with shouts of “Look at me, Mum, I’m in a book!”

The process can be just as valuable as the finished object. By challenging the Whitenoise team to respond to a shared topic or theme (in this case, Legacy) using whatever medium they choose, Whitenoise creates opportunities for experimentation that everyday client work may not allow. Designers, writers, illustrators, photographers and other collaborators are given the chance to explore unfamiliar approaches, develop their individual voices and express ideas beyond the boundaries of their usual roles.

For Legacy, we wanted the entire team to be involved and contribute: our six-strong production team, who excel at their day-to-day project management roles in Whitenoise, included. Ordinarily these people wouldn't have the opportunity to showcase their creative thinking or skills in a visual medium - but Legacy facilitated that - and to great acclaim and praise within the entire team when we saw their pieces.

Promotion

A book launch and exhibition naturally creates opportunities for press coverage and public conversation, all of which can raise a studio’s profile for a time. Marketing a creative practice like Whitenoise depends on showing, rather than merely claiming, what we can do. A self-published book demonstrates the ability to conceive, commission, edit, design and produce a substantial piece of work, evidencing of the studio’s aptitude for projects of a similar nature and ambition. It becomes a portable storefront: a physical expression of the studio’s taste, capabilities and values, and a valuable asset in attracting clients who recognise themselves in that outlook. A successful studio book is therefore rarely just vanity, expression or promotion. Its strength lies in accomplishing all three at once.

Limited first edition prints

Ultimately, a studio book is many things at once: a record of where we have been, a space for creative freedom, a statement of intent and, perhaps, a small act of defiance against the speed and impermanence of the digital world.

For us, Legacy Books brings these ideas together in an object designed to be held, explored, shared and kept - one that celebrates the people, thinking and creative work behind our practice. There is, admittedly, a little vanity in the mix, but there is also pride, curiosity and a desire to create something lasting on our own terms. We will soon be producing a limited-print first edition, and we would love it to find its way into the hands of people who share our belief in the enduring value of print.

Are you interested in purchasing a first-edition copy of Legacy?  Register your interest below and be among the first to hear when it becomes available.