“Punk yet elegant”: Peruse the publication designs of Sibel Beyer

Working closely with young feminist artists, writers and curators, the Berlin-based designer seeks out projects that are socially and culturally relevant.

Date
8 February 2024

As the saying goes, there’s nothing like a good book, and it seems Sibel Beyer’s publication-heavy practice lives by this motto. Sibel studied at the Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst School in Leipzig, a school with a long tradition of book design and typography, and since graduating she’s found herself working with a wide range of printed matter, including books, zines and posters. What most draws Sibel to such work is its breadth, and “the possibilities of different haptics when designing physical objects”.

While much of Sibel’s work is completed digitally, she always tries to incorporate an analogue element, like scanning, where possible, helping her to constantly uncover new forms of expression. “For me, design means being a visual translator and collaborator,” she says. “I dive deep into the process: a ping-pong between a research-based conceptual approach and an intuitive use of type, colour and composition.” Such an approach leads Sibel to see her practice as one of satisfying contradictions: “My designs are unconventional but classic, punk yet elegant and subtly irritating.”

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Sibel Beyer: Dina El Kaisy Friemuth – SOUL Stories (Copyright © Sibel Beyer, 2023)

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Sibel Beyer: Dina El Kaisy Friemuth – SOUL, BPA// Exhibition 2022 at KW Institute for Contemporary Art Berlin, courtesy Dina El Kaisy Friemuth (Copyright photo © Frank Sperling, 2022)

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Sibel Beyer: GHOSTING, M.1 Hohenlockstedt (Copyright © Sibel Beyer, 2023)

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Sibel Beyer: GHOSTING, M.1 Hohenlockstedt (Copyright © Sibel Beyer, 2023)

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Sibel Beyer: GOSSIP, M.1 Hohenlockstedt (Copyright © Sibel Beyer, 2021)

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Sibel Beyer: GOSSIP, M.1 Hohenlockstedt (Copyright © Sibel Beyer, 2021)

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Sibel Beyer: ars viva 2024 catalog, Kulturkreis der deutschen Wirtschaft im BDI e. V. (Copyright © Sibel Beyer, 2023)

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Sibel Beyer: ars viva 2024 catalog, Kulturkreis der deutschen Wirtschaft im BDI e. V. (Copyright © Sibel Beyer, 2023)

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Sibel Beyer: ars viva 2024 catalog, Kulturkreis der deutschen Wirtschaft im BDI e. V. (Copyright © Sibel Beyer, 2023)

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Sibel Beyer: Notions of Identity (Copyright photo © Alisa Kossak, 2021)

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Sibel Beyer, Christian Hofer & Jacob Schenck: Karl Finke – Buch No. 3 (Copyright photo © CHOREO, 2017)

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Sibel Beyer: Olga Hohmann – What I don’t remember (Copyright photo © Gernot Seeliger, 2020)

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Sibel Beyer: Dina El Kaisy Friemuth – SOUL Stories (Copyright © Sibel Beyer, 2023)

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About the Author

Olivia Hingley

Olivia (she/her) is associate editor of the website, working across editorial projects and features as well as Nicer Tuesdays events. She joined the It’s Nice That team in 2021. Feel free to get in touch with any stories, ideas or pitches.

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