Practice Theory hero visual close-up shot of stacked "Pink Chilli in a Bowl" books authored by Isabelle Der Hagopian and Manuel Der Hagopian showing pink title typography and spine detail.

Practice Theory studio photograph of the outer removable plastic sleeve featuring the printed list of Stars and Constellations.

Practice Theory perspective view of "Pink Chilli in a Bowl" books stacked beside upright shrink-wrapped volumes.

Practice Theory video demonstration showing the removal of the plastic sleeve revealing the book cover for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl".

Close-up of a white book cover with ‘Pink Chilli in a Bowl’ in large red sans-serif type, resting on a gray metallic surface.

Practice Theory vertical view of the book spine for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl" displaying silver edge gilding and category metrics.

Close-up of white books stacked on a pale reflective surface, with embossed text on the covers and spines reading ‘Pink Chilli in a Bowl’ and ‘28 Constellations.’

Practice Theory open publication view showing a page flip revealing map diagrams and neighborhood site previews for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl".

Practice Theory editorial print spread from the Constellations chapter detailing local Singapore eateries and architectural promenade routes.

Practice Theory detail view of translucent paper printed with bold typography for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl".

An open book on a gray metallic surface, mid page turn, with full-bleed photos of a hawker centre and a close-up of a bowl of food, and a spread of small photographs on the right.

Practice Theory open publication spread presenting a clean, structured Table of Contents layout for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl".

Practice Theory open book spread showing introductory Preface text alongside a breakdown of book sections for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl".

Practice Theory flat-lay overview of an open book spread displaying an overhead map layout of Singapore constellations for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl".

Practice Theory editorial spread opening an essay section on pink paper next to a large chapter title spread for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl".

Practice Theory open publication spread displaying architectural photography of local places of worship alongside descriptive text for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl".

Practice Theory open book spread featuring color documentary photographs of traditional bakery interiors and heritage cake shops for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl".

Practice Theory interior editorial spread featuring documentary photographs and descriptions of Toh Yi Garden HDB and Bukit Timah Food Centre for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl".

Practice Theory open publication layout presenting grid-aligned photographs depicting architectural landmarks and local eateries for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl".

Practice Theory interior spread displaying color street photography and cultural descriptions of Little India food stalls and eateries for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl".

Practice Theory open book spread featuring a full-spread pink aerial map diagram of the Tiong Bahru constellation for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl".

Practice Theory open book spread showing introductory history on Lim Joo Hin Eating House next to a section title page for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl".

Practice Theory open book spread displaying a turned translucent page overlaying colorful interior photos of a local hawker stall for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl".

Practice Theory open book spread showing a turned translucent page printed with a fish dish photography over section title text for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl".

Practice Theory open publication spread showing a dusty pink section intro divider page facing an Archives index list for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl".

Practice Theory open book spread presenting a contact-sheet grid of monochrome archival photography documenting shop owners and street life for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl".

Practice Theory open book spread displaying a four-column glossary index defining local architectural and cultural terms for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl".

Practice Theory interior spread featuring comprehensive glossary entries and definitions for local Singaporean vernacular and heritage for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl".

Pink Chilli in a Bowl ← Back to Objects

Pink Chilli in a Bowl

Designing Pink Chilli in a Bowl as a culinary and visual archive of Singapore

Client Isabelle Der Hagopian and Manuel Der Hagopian

Industry Publishing, Culinary Art & Cultural Heritage

Team Allegro Print (Printer)Don Wong (Photographer)Benjamin LeeGeorgina TanLinh TranRandy Yeo

Date 2021

Scope of Work

Editorial Design
Print Production
Art Direction

The Project
Practice Theory designed Pink Chilli in a Bowl, a personal archive of forgotten places and time-honoured buildings authored by Isabelle and Manuel Der Hagopian. The multi-format publication documents Singapore’s fading heritage spaces and local eateries.

The Brief
The challenge was to translate Isabelle’s contrasting source material into a physical format, something that captured the tension between her spontaneous urban exploration and meticulous archivism. Neither a traditional travel guide nor a historical record, the book needed a physical format that reflected Singapore's rapidly changing urban landscape through the lens of food, history, and place.

The Approach
We established a narrative strategy driven by the dual impulses of the flâneur, or the wanderer, and the archivist. The book was structured into four alternating components—Constellations, Stars, Essays, and Archive—allowing readers to navigate interconnected walking routes, individual landmarks, and recontextualised photographs at their own pace.

The Execution
Encased in a removable plastic sleeve printed with a "hidden" list of vanishing landmarks, removing the outer layer physically strips away the author credits, symbolically transferring authorship to the reader. The interior layout pairs structured grid lines with varying paper stocks, utilising reverse-printed translucent pages to create layered visual depth and mimic a personal journal.

What did we deliver?

Content architecture and editorial strategy: Developed the multi-part structural framework balancing personal observations with archival listings.
Publication and tactile packaging design: Created a custom removable sleeve, tactile paper transitions, and reverse-printed translucent spreads.
Art direction and layout systems: Designed a grid-based typographic system with subtle star-line connections and curated photo archives.

The Impact
The publication delivered an intimate, multi-sensory homage to Singapore's heritage, transforming personal urban observations into a coveted archival object that encourages readers to preserve and re-explore local food culture.

Practice Theory open book spread showcasing a full-page aerial map overlay for the Lavender neighborhood constellation for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl".

Practice Theory open book spread featuring a horizontal panorama photo strip mapping out the Geylang East constellation for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl".

Practice Theory open publication spread illustrating an aerial constellation map diagram for the Springleaf area for "Pink Chilli in a Bowl".