In The Luxury Edition, we explored what happens when design dares to take up space. Now, we’re swinging to the other side of the pendulum and asking a different kind of question: What happens when you strip it all back and let simplicity speak for itself? Recently, I walked into a bookstore and was immediately drawn to a simple orange book with a single-word title, Manifest by Roxie Nafousi. As I picked it up, ran my hand over the textured cover and flipped through the pages, I immediately felt myself exhale.
The font, the weight, the spacing, everything worked together to create a cohesive experience of calm.
I didn’t know who the author was, and it didn’t matter. By the end of the night, I purchased not one, but three of her books. How could such an understated design have that kind of magnetic pull? How can simplicity and consistency become a game-changing strategy? The Minimalist Edition is all about the power of less. Boldness isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s quiet and deeply confident. Consider this edition a reset. A reminder of the magnetism of minimalism, and the clarity that comes when you stop adding, and start refining. |
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P.S. Don't miss the next The Book Report. If this was forwarded to you, subscribe at unapologeticpress.com/report and get it straight from the source. |
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It started with one. One color, one word, one book, one clear vision: a coffee table book in everyday book format. From the beginning, Manifest was designed to be displayed and to make a bold statement before you even turned a page. And it did. Visually. Emotionally. Strategically. You don’t need an orange book or a global audience to think like Roxie Nafousi. You just need the courage to edit and the clarity to stay consistent.
As we unpack what she did well, borrow what resonates. Reinterpret it. Reimagine it. Make it your own. THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THE CONTENT. JUST A BREAKDOWN OF STRATEGY. |
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It began with simply Manifest. A slim, orange book that jumped off shelves and screens. Then came Manifest: Dive Deeper and Manifest in Action, both wrapped in a deep blue calm, followed by Manifest for Kids, in a vibrant statement-making green. Most recently came Confidence, bold in black. Each book carried the same design DNA: one bold color, one main word, interior calm. Together, they made every edition instantly recognizable as a “Roxie book.” Strategy Keep a consistent design identity across formats to build instant recognition. |
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If the cover invited calm, the interior sustained it. The layout of Manifest mirrored its message: clean margins, generous spacing, and type that breathed. While the font size was too small, the fonts themselves were the perfect accompaniment. Nothing felt rushed or crowded. Even the book’s physical form, the compact size, matte finish, and signature paper stock, made reading feel tactile and personal. It literally felt good reading the book. It’s proof that design isn’t just visual; it’s visceral.
The way a reader moves through a book is part of the story and the experience.
Strategy Design your interior as an extension of your message.
Let form and function tell the same truth. |
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O3 | THE BRAND COLLABORATIONS |
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Roxie expanded her reach through collaborations that deepened her reader experience.
With Manifest, she partnered with wellness, skincare, and lifestyle brands. Each one an extension of her emotional and aesthetic palette. Every collaboration echoed her book’s tone: soft, neutral, intentional. Because these partnerships were aligned with her brand ethos, they didn’t dilute the message. They amplified it . Strategy Partner where there is alignment. Ask yourself: - Who shares your values and aesthetic?
- How could a collaboration enhance your reader’s experience?
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Then came Manifest Live. This is where we see the power of brand cohesion and consistency. Part workshop, part movement, part awakening, these live events mirrored the experience of reading her books. From the staging to the design to the tone, everything was intentional. In a era of overstimulation, Roxie made calm the luxury. It’s one thing to have a cohesive brand on paper, but does it carry over off the page? Strategy Turn your message into an experience. Ask yourself: Could it be a conversation series? A workshop? A pop-up installation? |
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From the book came products: journals, affirmation cards, candles, guided meditations. Each piece expanded the experience. Every product stayed true to her visual identity: the same bold color strategy, tone, and typography. You could mix any piece from the Manifest collection, and it would feel cohesive. The refinement isn’t just in the design, it’s with what she chooses to create to support and amplify her message. Strategy Create a selective number of auxiliary products that reinforce your message. The goal isn’t to have more. It’s to have the right accompaniments that allow readers to go deeper. |
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When your book becomes a brand, opportunities emerge that even the best planning couldn’t predict. For Roxie, that evolution came through Alia, her new perfume line. It continues the same language of luxury minimalism creating a full-sensory expansion of her brand. Through fragrance, Roxie gave Manifest a second life. Strategy Create a multi-sensory expression of your message. Also, be open to the unexpected. Aligned opportunities will always feel like a natural extension. |
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Her consistency extended beyond the products. It lived in the marketing. From her website to her social media, every element reflected the same visual calm and intentional simplicity. Strategy Let your marketing mirror your message.
If your brand promises simplicity, make your promotion feel effortless.
If your story offers clarity, your visuals should breathe. Define the emotional experience you want to deliver and express it consistently. |
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Manifest wasn’t just a book. It built a new category. It didn’t succeed because it was trendy.
It succeeded because simplicity and minimalism are extensions of who Roxie Nafousi is.
It’s how she lives. It’s what she believes.
And that’s what makes it a game-changing strategy. Each book, product, event, and partnership became another page in the same story. As you search for your own winning strategy, start by looking within. |
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Bold books, and the authors behind them, come in all styles and genres. So if your version of bold looks different, let it. The goal isn’t to be loud or calm. It’s to be unapologetically you. Be consistent. Be intentional. And if you must, be quiet. But most importantly, be you. Be honest about who you are, who you’re becoming, and the world you want to create. Be honest about the brand you’re building and how your book supports it. Your book is more than words on a page. It’s an extension of you.
Let it mirror your ethos and your next era. And if it doesn’t right now, don’t be afraid to pivot. Because bold isn’t always loud.
Sometimes, bold is simply honest. See you next Saturday where we’re going behind the scenes of a book cover photoshoot, where rebellion was clearly in session. xo, Valerie Editor, The Book Report, Creative Intelligence for Bold Authors Founder, Unapologetic Press, The Creative Publishing House for the Bold |
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P.S. Don't miss the next edition of The Book Report. If this was forwarded to you, subscribe at unapologeticpress.com/report and get it straight from the source. |
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New York, NY -, United States |
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