10 Ways Creators Use Blurb: Ideas to Spark Your Own Publication

– Cats of Santorini

Travel books remain a favourite for independent photographers and Cats of Santorini takes a playful twist by documenting Santorini entirely through its feline inhabitants. Paired with the book’s charitable mission supporting an animal non-profit, it’s a perfect example of how personal passion projects can evolve into purposeful publications.

– Banana Coffee Jackfruit Doughnut

– Food for ThoughtA Pocket Full of Queer Affirmations

From street-vendor photography to globally inspired recipes, cookbooks remain one of the most exciting and accessible creative formats. Banana Coffee Jackfruit Doughnut blends documentary-style visuals with culinary storytelling, while Food for Thought supports Rohingya refugees by preserving cultural memory through dishes cooked in refugee camps.
These projects show how food publishing can become a platform for activism, culture, and visual storytelling.

– A Pocket Full of Queer Affirmations

Affirmation books are powerful tools for self-expression and community support. A Pocket Full of Queer Affirmations distills uplifting messages into a pocket-sized format that’s both giftable and deeply meaningful. This type of project is ideal for designers, illustrators, and writers who want to combine thoughtful typography with small-format publishing.

– 100 Strangers

A portrait series has the power to connect audiences with people and stories they may never encounter otherwise. 100 Strangers captures an eclectic mix of personalities and moments, showing how a simple creative constraint, 100 portraits, can become a deeply engaging publication.

– Elizabeth Barlow 2025

Whether you’re a student, recent graduate, or established artist, a printed portfolio elevates your practice beyond the screen. Elizabeth Barlow 2025 demonstrates how designers can curate their strongest work into a tactile, elegant showcase that communicates both craft and concept.

– Voices Above Water

Documentary publishing remains one of Blurb’s greatest strengths. Voices Above Water uses the book format to explore lived experiences and socio-political realities, capturing voices and perspectives that may otherwise be overlooked. It’s a reminder that publishing can be an act of preservation and advocacy.

– Sonder

For writers, Blurb offers complete creative freedom, from experimental prose to structured poetry. Sonder blends intimate writing with thoughtful design, turning a literary project into a visually engaging book object. This format is perfect for authors seeking control over layout, typography, and overall voice.

– Aetherscapes

Exhibition catalogs are essential for artists who want their work to exist beyond the gallery walls. Aetherscapes translates an immersive show into a printed experience, combining photography, artwork, and contextual writing. These books become lasting artefacts of creative projects that might otherwise be temporary.

– Photography Without Borders

Print has always been a powerful connector. Photography Without Borders exemplifies how the book format can amplify collective voices. This type of publication is ideal for grassroots organisations, universities, non-profits, and photographers working collaboratively across cultures or communities.

– The Wan Chai Times

– How to Find a Monkey

Blurb is not just for documentary or visual work, fiction thrives here too. The Wan Chai Times reimagines a fictional Hong Kong newspaper, blending world-building with graphic design. Meanwhile, How to Find a Monkey shows just how well the platform handles illustrated children’s books, from playful layouts to vibrant colour reproduction.