El Libro Imposible is a creative space by Prodigioso Volcán in the old town of Ponferrada. Opened in 2022 and founded by the journalist Mario Tascón, it pairs a selection of books with a focus on independent publishers with a programme of reading clubs, presentations, workshops, exhibitions and storytelling sessions, with the aim of keeping culture alive in an area affected by depopulation.
A bookshop with a lot going on, and a system to keep up with it.
My role
Since 2023 I have been the main designer on the project. I handle the design of the service and the social media around the shop’s programme, and I worked on the brand refresh, always with Petia and Álex, the booksellers, close at hand.
Making a serious bookshop feel fresh
A bookshop with real literary weight and a lively programme needs a brand that carries both. The refresh gave it a grid-based, accessible and modern identity: credible as a bookshop, with enough visual energy to stand out on social media.
Designing for repetition
The programme changes constantly, so the design works as a system. Each type of content has its own colour and template: workshops, author talks, storytelling sessions, reading clubs. The work also reaches physical formats: posters, bookmarks, gift vouchers, calendar prototypes and mockups of the merchandise sold in the shop.
Result
The space has been recognised with an Anthem Award 2024 for Best Community Space in Education, Art & Culture, and its online store now reaches readers across Spain.
-
Original brandSonia García
-
Art directionMaría Requena, Carlos Heyd
-
Design, social media and serviceCarlos Heyd
-
MotionPedro Mato
-
BooksellersPetia and Álex