Commemorating 120 years of National University of Singapore in The Wonder Of publication

The Project
Practice Theory designed The Wonder Of, a commemorative publication celebrating the 120th anniversary of the National University of Singapore (NUS).

The Brief
To mark its 120-year milestone, NUS needed a publication that avoided a conventional chronological archive. Instead, the book required a design framework that presented the university as a holistic institution, celebrating the human spirit of wonder across its history, academic achievements, research, alumni, and campus community.

The Approach
We framed our editorial approach around tactile exploration and discovery. The publication balances essays with archival materials and newly commissioned photography by Don Wong, featuring story contributions from alumni, professors, researchers, and long-serving canteen vendors to construct a multifaceted portrait of the university.

The Execution
For a limited edition of 120 copies, the book is encased in a tactile wrap blind-embossed with satellite imagery of the Kent Ridge campus provided by the NUS Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing, featuring seven embossed landmarks corresponding to the chapters. The main cover highlights the foreword with blind embossing and foil stamping to reveal the title, while interior chapters utilise distinct material transitions, including metallic copper on sand paper and travel-journal layouts for global narratives.

What did we deliver?

• Editorial strategy and content architecture: Structured multi-layered institutional narratives, essays, and archival records.
• Limited-edition packaging design: Created a custom satellite-embossed map wrap and foil-stamped cover hierarchy.
• Publication and material production: Designed distinct chapter rhythm shifts using special inks, textured paper stocks, and curated photography.

The Impact
The publication served as an extraordinary commemorative keepsake for university leaders, donors, and partner institutions, translating 120 years of institutional legacy into a tactile work of art.