Eleventy in a Box
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How I designed composer Tristan Jakob-Hoff’s website by turning inspiration into original design
Every designer draws inspiration from somewhere. Here’s how I transformed Tristan Jakob-Hoff’s love of mid-century graphic design into his distinctive website.
Every designer is inspired by other designers. The challenge is knowing how to transform those influences into something original. That’s the thinking behind my work for composer Tristan Jakob-Hoff.
Inspiration should lead to original ideas
Tristan Jakob-Hoff is a British composer for film, television, stage, and video games. Alongside his music, he has a genuine appreciation for mid-century graphic design. During our conversations we kept returning to the work of Saul Bass and the bold simplicity of classic film posters. Those discussions suggested a visual language that could feel every bit as distinctive as Tristan’s music.
Turning influences into a visual identity
When studying other designers’ work, I try to pinpoint what makes it memorable. Saul Bass’ iconic work isn’t defined by any particular colour or shape. Instead, it’s memorable because of its confidence, simplicity, and uncanny ability to communicate ideas with remarkable economy. Those qualities became the foundation for Tristan’s website. Every design decision helps express his appreciation for graphic design while creating a visual identity that’s unmistakably his own.
Developing the design
My illustrations grew alongside work on layout and typography. I created a series of original illustrations using piano keys—Tristan’s main instrument—as the foundation for a graphic language that appears throughout his website. A restrained palette of black, white, and a single accent colour brings clarity to every page. As my design evolved, I refined every element until the website felt confident, expressive, and connected to Tristan’s personality.
What I learned
Inspiration becomes valuable when it leads somewhere new. Tristan Jakob-Hoff’s project reminded me that good design comes from understanding why certain influences endure, then interpreting them in ways that reflect the person you’re designing for.
See the finished project
Tristan Jakob-Hoff’s design combines colour, graphic design, and typography into a visual identity inspired by mid-century modernism, while feeling entirely his own. If you’d like to see how those influences come together in the finished design, you can explore Tristan Jakob-Hoff’s website.
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January 1, 2026 • Andy Clarke • design