Daphne Press began as the specialty small press arm of Illumicrate, known for creating beautiful limited editions in collaboration with authors and artists, using high-end materials and thoughtful design.
Background
As the imprint evolved to publish original works, founder Daphne Tonge sought a digital platform that could support both marketing and operational needs—building visibility, supporting sales, and growing the community around the press.
We were brought in to help translate the creative ambition of the brand into a flexible and future-ready digital presence.
Our Approach
We worked closely with Daphne and her team to understand the transition from collector’s editions to original publishing. This meant going beyond just visual design—focusing on how the site could function as a multi-purpose hub for readers, retailers, authors, and the press’s internal team.
Key activities included:
- Digital marketing consultation to align the site with upcoming campaign activity across social platforms
- A content strategy that balances discoverability, storytelling, and conversion
- Audience mapping and UX design to cater to book collectors, new readers, trade partners, and potential authors
We designed and developed a site that reflects the strong visual identity of the brand while delivering a seamless user experience across devices. Built on a lightweight and flexible content management system (CMS), the platform offers the Daphne Press team control over content updates without needing technical expertise.
Key features delivered:
- Book showcase templates with space for editorial content, cover artwork, and purchase links to third-party retailers
- News and event updates to support time-sensitive marketing activity and fan engagement
- Author submissions portal with guided forms, simplifying the intake process for unsolicited manuscripts
- Trade enquiry routing that directs professional contacts to the appropriate internal contacts
Social campaign support, including link-in-bio integration, custom meta and OG data, and dynamic homepage content for seasonal pushes
The resulting platform is elegant, functional, and aligned with the brand’s aesthetic. It supports the dual goals of elevating the press’s original publications and providing infrastructure for long-term digital marketing efforts. The site empowers the Daphne Press team to be nimble with campaigns while keeping their growing audience engaged.
This project showcases our capabilities in:
- Translating publishing goals into scalable digital tools
- Crafting flexible CMS solutions for creative teams
- Designing audience-first platforms for modern independent publishers
- Providing technical frameworks that support both brand storytelling and business growth
