A collection of recipes for the Sicilian agenda 2023

The Challenge

For the 2023 edition of the Sicily Agenda, I set out to create a product that celebrated the rich culinary traditions and cultural heritage of Sicily. The goal was to design an agenda that felt like a journey through the island’s history, cuisine, and lifestyle, engaging both locals and those passionate about Sicily’s unique charm. Each page needed to blend functionality with storytelling, making the agenda both practical and a delight to use.

My Approach

As with every edition, the Agenda Sicily 2023 was a completely from-scratch project. I designed every element myself, avoiding stock images to ensure a truly unique and personal touch.

Inspired by Sicily’s vibrant traditions, I chose the theme of Sicilian Recipes and Culture.

This year’s agenda featured:

• Thoughtful Design: Using Adobe InDesign, I meticulously structured the layout for optimal functionality, while Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator were used to design the visually striking cover.
• Original Illustrations: Hand-drawn artwork inspired by common recipes, Sicilian locations, and traditional dishes, designed using Adobe Fresco and Illustrator.
• Recipes: Each month featured a carefully selected Sicilian recipe, showcasing the island’s iconic flavours and culinary heritage. The agenda collects a total of 12 recipes and illustrations.
• Cultural Notes: Fun facts, proverbs, and insights into Sicilian history and traditions were included to deepen the connection with the island.
• Cover design: The cover features a unique pattern of traditional Sicilian food represented as symbols. This vibrant and culturally rich design captures the essence of Sicily’s culinary heritage, creating a cover that is both visually appealing and deeply meaningful.
• Multilingual content: Every story, recipe, and cultural insight was thoughtfully presented in Italian, Sicilian language, and English, making the agenda accessible to a wide audience while celebrating Sicily’s linguistic diversity.
• Interior layout: Carefully crafted with the user in mind, the layout includes weekly overviews, dedicated sections for project planning, and goal-setting pages.
• Crafted content: For this year’s edition, I partnered with a professional Food Technologist to create 12 authentic Sicilian recipes. This collaboration added depth and credibility to the content, making the agenda a true reflection of Sicily’s culinary heritage.

The Result

The Agenda Sicily 2023 was warmly received by users, with positive feedback highlighting its unique blend of practicality and cultural storytelling. The combination of recipes and cultural notes turned the agenda into more than just a planning tool it became a keepsake for those who cherish Sicily and love the italian cousin.