Ecofeminism and ecology are Sarah Salomé Delétain’s calls to publishing

“My countryside origins have been really important in my development as a human being and as a graphic designer”, Sarah Salomé Delétain tells us. Originally from Burgundy, now based in Toulouse, the designer creates books and printed ephemera in order to highlight ecological, local and rural issues. She explains: “At the heart of my work is my activism for ecology, ecofeminism and peasant culture” — all subjects her recent editorial endeavours have delved into, off the back of her diploma research at École supérieure d'art et design Le Havre-Rouen.

When speaking to the methods she uses to craft her printed work she says: “Even though I often use conventional printing techniques, it matters for me to think about sustainable choices, using recycled paper and local printing as much as possible. This gives meaning to the shapes and choices of the graphic elements in a project.” With this sensitivity towards sustainability in print, Sarah’s tactile oeuvre fosters a handmade look and feel, connecting books back to the land and emphasising their physicality with “human gestures” and interactivity considered in their design. To achieve her layered editorial outcomes, Sarah makes use of a range of techniques from drawing, sewing and screen printing, to making her own paper and pigments from natural materials she has collected.

The graphic designer is finding the inspiration for her handmade projects outside of design, in the world of environmental uprisings and activist collectives such as Les Soulèvements de la Terre. She’s also taking influence from artists such as Vincent Perrottet who are practising from the small rural villages they call home. Sarah concludes: “I want to use my voice as a designer to share information for thriving initiatives that intend to redefine our model of living together and taking care of nature.”