Eye-catching editorial design for sustainable brands
Some things, such as editorial design, defy the digital age. A magazine, a cookery book or a brand publication to leaf through transforms knowledge, recipes and a brand’s ethos into something you’ll want to hold in your hands. We design editorial works that bring your brand to life.
Our promise
Editorial Design: Eight reasons why we are the right partner
Creating stories rather than pages
We design editorial content to build suspense, rather than as a random sequence of pages. The narrative It determines the structure and rhythm; the – layout and scope follow suit to ensure the perfect reading experience.
Design with a distinctive style
The result is a visual language that makes your brand instantly recognisable. Your colours, typography, imagery, pictograms and illustrations all work together to create a look that clearly stands out from run-of-the-mill templates.
Authentic images rather than stock photos
The focus is on your own brand imagery or the images our photographers take for you, because only these can truly tell your story. We can also incorporate stock images that blend in seamlessly and do not detract from your brand’s character.
Clean files. Smooth processes.
Your files will be logically organised and consistently structured right from the start. This standard is the result of many years’ experience in the agency sector and ensures that your data can go straight to print or online without any delays.
Extensive experience in editorial design
You can rely on our expertise in staff magazines, study guides and comprehensive product catalogues. We know what really matters when it comes to structure, information hierarchy and readability.
Be consistent with your brand voice
Your tone of voice is just as important as your design. Upon request, texts can be revised or rewritten to ensure consistency in both content and language, with – supported by copywriters specialising in sustainability or AI-assisted optimisation.
Support right through to printing
From the initial idea through to the print-ready PDF – and, if required, right through to printing – your project is managed entirely in-house. This ensures quality and allows you to benefit from our sustainable Network partners benefit.
Planned corrections and proofreading
A clear round of revisions is firmly scheduled after each project phase. Proofreading can be added as an optional extra. This ensures transparency throughout the process and reduces risks in the final implementation.
Our understanding
Editorial design: more than just layout
A Magazine, Cookery book, Workbook, White paper, Staff magazine or Sustainability Report is not just any printed product. It is a editorial branding work with its own structure, style and visual language. Unlike a website, it will opened, leafed through and kept – rather than just being scrolled past for a few seconds. That’s exactly why good Editorial Design More than just an attractive layout: it needs a clear narrative, a well-thought-out flow and a design that brings the content to life.
We develop editorial projects for Hotels, Coaches and sustainable companies, from the editorial concept, through image selection and layout, to the print-ready or digital PDF file. The result is not an off-the-shelf template, but a work that looks, sounds and feels just like your brand itself, whether Customer magazine, in-house publication or Sustainability Report.
Customer feedback
Trust cannot be claimed; – can only be recounted
„Many perspectives, one distinctive style: Katrin’s work has brought together the individual contributions of the professors to create a cohesive whole. We were particularly impressed by her organisation of the 7-day photo shoot. The images perfectly capture how we at – want to be perceived, and that is precisely what resonates with our target audience.“
Head of Marketing | Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
"I had recipes, photos and stories –, but no coherent concept. With 2bu’s help, this has turned into a cookbook with a clear structure, a well-thought-out design and its own distinctive style. Today, I’m holding a book in my hands that I’m truly proud of and that people enjoy leafing through.“
Private chef
„Katrin designed and produced our staff magazine. With great dedication, she brought together content from the various departments, organised it effectively and, by contributing creative ideas, developed it into a high-quality publication.“
Head of Marketing | Breuninger
Weaknesses & Opportunities
Content fills pages –; good editorial design turns it into a work of art
Unfortunately, this happens quite often
The publication looks good, but – doesn’t tell your story. If there is no clear brand strategy in place before the editorial is produced, the work will lack a recognisable identity: it will be pleasing to the eye, but lacking in substance.
Without brand design, there can be no consistent look. Icons from Canva, illustrations lacking a consistent style, fonts without a clear hierarchy – each page tells a different story, even though they’re all part of the same work.
The content is –, but the medium lacks dramatic tension. A publication needs a narrative core that carries the reader through the work; it is not merely a collection of pages strung together.
Paper and production come last – – – and that’s exactly where the trap lies. Animal-based adhesives used in bookbinding are sustainable, but not vegan; coated standard paper is rarely in line with the ethos of sustainable brands.
Here’s how we’ll sort it out
Strategy before design – – – and that applies particularly here. Before an editorial is produced, we recommend establishing the right sustainable branding as the foundation upon which a credible publication can be built.
A clean brand design creates a consistent look. All design elements are created as part of your brand identity. Printed materials thus achieve a recall rate up to 80 % higher than digital advertising.
We build suspense from the inside out. Reading flow is a matter of strategic decisions, not layout details. According to TrueImpact, structured print products require 21 % less cognitive effort than digital ones.
Sustainability doesn’t stop at the content. We deliberately choose paper, adhesives, etc. that are – FSC-certified and vegan. This is because, according to Ipsos, 80 % of consumers trust a brand more if it uses FSC-certified products.
Creative process
Perfect for every target group Concept, templates & guidelines
This process adapts to the target group: Solo self-employed, who would like to implement the concept themselves can do so. Medium-sized company, who would like to continue to be accompanied by us only need templates and Larger companies with an internal team They will also receive guidelines which they can use to brief other service providers. Expect around a week’s research, two weeks to develop the concept, one week for the templates and two weeks for the guidelines. No matter which project phase you drop out of – – – you’ll get exactly what you need for your next step need.
Research: Discover & Define
Each of our projects begins with a brief Research phase. We’ll go through your information and data, gather inspiration and ideas, and bring it all together into a Mood board together. For companies that entrust us with the implementation, this step is more streamlined than for teams that continue to work in-house. We’ll present the mood board to you and finalise it together with you, –, to serve as a guide for the next steps.
Concept: Design
Based on the Mood board we create Layouts and sample visualisations. We keep these in a Concept presentation Finalise them and discuss them with you – – – your feedback is incorporated straight away. Once approved, the concept is ready for implementation. Sole proprietor, those who wish to implement this themselves can use this as a basis to create their own templates and populate them with content.
Templates: Develop
For SMEs that entrust the entire implementation of the project to us, we draw up on the basis of the Concepts professional templates, which enable us to carry on working efficiently. We develop the content for these in additional projects, finalise them and, where necessary, see them through to production or to the printing stage. This results in a consistent, reliable workflow – from the idea to the finished result.
Guideline: Document
For growing companies with their own teams we already create in the previous step Templates, which can be easily filled with content internally. At the same time, we document the system in Guidelines, that ensure consistent application and long-term scalability. This creates a Fully usable, clean setup, that represents the brand clearly and reliably.
Packages & services
Three ways to get exactly what you need
With Guided Start (S) you’ll get your Concept as a basis for your own implementation. Trusted Lead (M) complements this with professional Templates, with whom we will continue to work together. Bespoke Project (L)complements this for teams with their own marketing or design team by providing templates and Guidelines from.
Included in all packages:
1 online meeting and 1 round of revisions per project phase
Unless otherwise agreed, no open working files will be provided. 2bu design is entitled to use the project for reference purposes.
All prices are exclusive of VAT.
Add-ons
For anything that goes beyond our basic framework
Bespoke solutions that visibly strengthen your sustainable business. – offers clear and fixed pricing, so you know exactly what to budget for right from the start. Illustrations and templates require existing branding; final artwork and print support can be booked separately. We’d be happy to discuss with you which elements will really make a difference to your project.
A caring approach to your project
Your – project is waiting to become a reality, and we’re really looking forward to bringing it to life with you. Booking one of our – packages is really straightforward; prices exclude text and images, so you can stay flexible.
1500 €/25, 2250 €/50, 3000 €/from 100 pages, plus VAT.
Set of pictograms
Whether for ingredients, wayfinding or infographics, at – we design bespoke pictograms that blend seamlessly into your brand identity. You’ll receive professionally prepared files in the standard formats (EPS, PDF, PNG, SVG and JPG).
600 €/10, 900 €/20, 1200 €/40 items plus VAT.
Illustrations charged at cost
Illustrations give your brand personality. Based on the defined design direction, we develop bespoke illustrations that bring your story to life and make your brand truly distinctive. You’ll receive professionally prepared files (EPS, PDF, PNG, SVG and JPG).
60 €/simple, 120 €/medium, 240 €/complex plus VAT.
Stylish additions made from reclaimed timber
Stock images that don’t look like stock images – it’s all down to the choice. Drawing on our professional brand expertise, we source and licence images that suit your brand, ensuring it remains authentic. Illustrations and pictograms are also an option. The package prices include the licence.
600 €/10, 900 €/20, 1200 €/40 items plus VAT.
Photography services from the network
Some projects require their own images. Working alongside experienced photographers from our sustainable network, we create authentic – images of everything from products and staff to corporate environments.
Professional image retouching
We optimise your images, from subtle corrections to complex adjustments. Every retouch is carried out by experts, using technical expertise and, where desired, supported by AI tools. The aim is to achieve a natural, high-quality look that blends seamlessly with your brand identity.
20 €/simple, 60 €/medium, 120 €/complex plus VAT.
Copywriters with expertise in sustainability
Our copywriters specialise in sustainable brands. They develop new copy or optimise existing content, using AI where requested. A clearly defined tone of voice is essential for achieving compelling results.
80 €/Standard page plus VAT.
Thorough proofreading for EN/DE
If you want to be sure, then rely on our professional proofreading service, billed in accordance with industry practice on a standard-page basis (approx. 250 words or 1,500 characters, including spaces). That way, no one will stumble across any typos.
10 €/Standard page plus VAT.
Print support, including coordination
From choosing the paper to approving the print, we oversee the entire printing process. Working alongside your print supplier or a partner from our sustainable network, we ensure a high-quality result – which can also be vegan and resource-efficient if you wish.
15 % Commission plus VAT.
FAQ
Before you ask, we’ve already answered –
The most frequently asked questions are rarely the least important ones – that’s why we answer them here openly and straight to the point. This will help you get your bearings, understand our processes and plan your next steps realistically. If you still have any unanswered questions, simply book a coffee date with us – –: transparent, structured and on equal terms.
Who is this project suitable for?
The project is aimed at Hoteliers, which is a Coffee Table Book would like to develop, at Coaches and other experts who publish their content in a high-quality publication wish to pool, as well as to Company, which is a Sustainability Report or a similar publication wish to realise. The aim is always to create a work that not only informs, but also serves as a symbol and can be used in the long term.
It is helpful to draw on existing material such as texts, images, data or content you have already gathered – in short, everything that is already part of your story. Building on this, a structured body of work takes shape, presenting this content in a clear, publishable form.
What will be used to carry out the project?
Implementation takes place entirely in Adobe InDesign – – from concept and layouts right through to templates and the final design. We do not use Canva or similar tools, but rely on professional layout systems designed for both print and digital use. The aim is to create a consistent, well-structured system that can be reused flexibly.
In addition, depending on the package, the following apply: Templates and Guidelines, which clearly structure and simplify the use of the design. If required, the guidelines can also be integrated into a CMS Divi be prepared. In exceptional cases, we produce the concept presentation in PowerPoint, if they are required for internal coordination.
Who can edit the content later?
The results are structured in such a way that they can be used in different ways depending on the package. Sole proprietor They will receive a clearly structured template in PDF format, which they can adapt using tools such as Canva. Medium-sized enterprises They usually carry out the implementation with us using the templates. Growing start-ups and Companies with a marketing or design department They use professional tools such as Adobe InDesign anyway.
The Concept as well as the Guideline are referred to as PDF handed over, as was the final editorial project. Only the Templates are referred to as open InDesign files provided to enable flexible further processing.
What additional costs are incurred?
All those produced as part of the project Pictograms, illustrations and images –, whether off-the-shelf or custom-made, – are supplied with extensive rights of use provided. This allows you to use the content flexibly, for example on your website, on social media, for PR, in campaigns or for partnerships.
There are no time-limited or channel-specific restrictions, meaning that long-term use is possible as part of your communication strategy – – – without any ongoing additional costs arising from individual licensing models. We simply reserve the right to terminate the agreed Project as a reference to use in our internal communications.
What do I need to have in place before the project starts?
Existing resources are helpful Texts, recipes or images. Other key design considerations are also important: a desired Illustration or pictogram style, the Font hierarchy and Colour selection.
Ideally, you should also have a clear idea of the desired Tone of Voice with. We’ll work out all the rest together with you. Of course, we’d also be happy to take care of the Strategy and the Design before the project starts. That’s when you’ll have the greatest influence, as we only provide a brief introduction at most during the individual projects.
Initial consultation
The story behind a brand deserves editorial design that does it justice
Stylish design meets true readability: Editorial design for sustainable brands turns a magazine you admire into one you actually read. This is how publications are created that readers genuinely engage with, rather than just flicking through.
In a non-binding and free initial consultation we check together whether we share this aspiration. You grab a coffee, we consciously take our time. The call is for sorting out thoughts, sharing ideas openly and filtering out what really matters for your project. Calmly. Honestly. Without pressure to make decisions.
It quickly becomes clear whether it fits – strategically, creatively and humanely.
If yes: great. If not: also good. Clarity is always a benefit.
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