Crafting a Book of Seasonal Walks: Inside Our Collaboration with Julie Dodsworth

  1. At Inc Dot, we’ve always believed that the presentation of a book should be as delightful and distinctive as the content within. So when artist and author Julie Dodsworth brought us her latest title, Not Just Where to Walk, But When, in Yorkshire, we knew it needed a design that did justice to both her evocative writing and the beauty of Yorkshire’s countryside.

    This case study shares the creative journey behind the book’s layout and design, led by our in-house designer Martyn, and how we translated Julie’s vision into a book that’s every bit as charming and characterful as her seasonal walks.

  1. About the Book

    Not Just Where to Walk, But When, in Yorkshire is a guide to 20 carefully chosen walks that shine at particular times of year. From bluebells and snowdrops to heather-covered moorland and dramatic autumn woodland, Julie Dodsworth’s book goes beyond traditional walking guides to answer a simple but often overlooked question: when should you go?

    Each route is richly detailed, rooted in personal discovery, and includes gentle narratives about local places, flora, and what makes Yorkshire’s changing landscape so special throughout the year.

    You can read more about the book on the Countryside Books website.

    • Edit 02

  1. Translating a Seasoned Voice into Visual Design

    Julie’s writing is warm and conversational, with a love of nature woven into every paragraph. From the beginning, our design approach had one central aim: make the book feel as personable and joyful as the woman behind it.

  1. Illustration-First Thinking

    Julie’s own hand-drawn illustrations play a vital role throughout the book, capturing motifs from each season – foxgloves, harvest scenes, snowy hedgerows, and more. These became visual anchors across the pages. Martyn worked closely with Julie to select and position illustrations that echoed the mood of each walk, using them not just decoratively but rhythmically, to lead the reader gently through each chapter.

    • Edit 05
    • Edit 01

  2. Layout That Breathes

    We avoided dense, conventional guidebook layouts in favour of something more open and welcoming. Generous margins, clear typographic hierarchy, and a focus on single-column readability allowed the content to feel unhurried. Each walk begins with a full-page title spread and a moment of visual pause – encouraging readers to slow down before stepping into the next journey.

    Custom fonts were chosen to mirror the charm of Julie’s hand-rendered artwork while maintaining legibility across longer sections of text. The serif display type has a subtle nod to the handwritten, without tipping into pastiche. Supporting body text is carefully set for comfort, especially important for readers dipping in and out on their travels.

  1. Emphasising Seasonality

    Because the entire premise of the book revolves around *when* to walk, the layout had to make seasonal cues instantly visible. We introduced seasonal markers at the top of each walk, combined with palette shifts drawn from Julie’s illustrations: spring walks bathed in fresh greens and soft pastels, while autumn pages use amber, russet, and berry tones.

    These visual clues help readers intuitively plan their explorations without needing to scan through the whole book. It’s a subtle way of reinforcing the book’s unique value: not just mapping where to go, but suggesting when nature’s show is at its best.

    • Edit 04

  1. Collaboration That Celebrates Craft

    Julie Dodsworth’s brand has long stood for craftsmanship, countryside heritage, and a deep personal connection to place. Our goal was to make sure every page reflected that ethos.

    The book is a celebration of thoughtful travel, seasonal beauty, and Yorkshire’s quiet drama. From concept to print, every design decision was made in close conversation between Martyn and Julie. The result is a guidebook that’s both practical and poetic – a piece of publishing that invites readers to walk through Yorkshire with new eyes, at just the right time.

  1. Interested in publishing your next title with a little more heart and a lot more care?

    Get in touch with Team Purple to talk about how we can help bring your story to life – on the page and beyond.