Description:

'Prestige & Pressure; A Milestone of Earning a Michelin Star' is an editorial project that responds to the 2025 ISTD Brief, 'Milestones', that tasks participants to typographically investigate a person, subject, or topic that could be understood through the lens of achieving a milestone.

Rather than addressing the topic through the rich history of the associated Red Guide, this book shifts the spotlight onto the chefs, especially those whose entire careers revolve around discipline, perfection, and the pursuit of recognition. This project treats the Michelin Star not as a static culinary achievement, but as an emotionally charged milestone that is built on years of craft, sacrifice, and psychological endurance.

To express this, the project takes a storytelling-led approach grounded in Michelin’s five assessment criteria. This narrative allows to unfold the subject across two contrasting sections: Prestige and Pressure. Prestige is a voice of appreciation that aims to celebrate culinary discipline, mastery, and transformation; while Pressure exposes the burnout and psychological burden that can accompany continued excellence. The tension between these two sides mirrors the lived reality of many chefs, giving the opportunity to further explore the Michelin Star as a milestone defined as much by what is hidden as what is celebrated.

The book opens with a neutral, archival tone that initially positions readers as outsiders observing the Michelin system from a distance. As the narrative unfolds, this tone gradually transforms. The typography becomes increasingly expressive, guiding readers from passive observation toward immersive, personal engagement. Even though a wide range of typefaces was introduced to the publication, their functions and proportions are intent, reflecting the calculated complexity and the harmony found in fine dining dishes collectively.

Layout and pacing also play an important role. The Prestige section features more generous white space and balanced arrangements to amplify the distinction and finesse. The Pressure section becomes more compressed and expressive in an orderly sense, which reflects the underlying intensity and emotional strain that often go unnoticed behind the Michelin kitchens. A vertical reading system was also established to bridge these narratives as it introduces an entry that allows readers to put themselves into the thinking process of chefs, in a way that is subtle but heart-felt.

By shifting the focus toward the lived experiences of those behind the accolade, it becomes a lens for exploring the laboured and psychological cost of high achievement. Looking beneath the polished surface creates room for essential conversations about burnout, perfectionism, and the crushing weight of sustained performance. The work engages both empathy and critical thinking, revealing a journey that speaks to the universal struggle between ambition and wellbeing.