Law
of
The Land
In 2024, the National Library of Norway celebrated the 750th anniversary of the country's first legal code to be applied nationwide: Magnus the Lawmender's National Law. The poster designs created for this milestone focused on capturing the essence of the law through a modern visual approach.
The posters highlighted quirky and poetic aspects of the laws, that dates back to the 13th century. To mention some, the laws could contain things such as chasing culprits “to the mountains, forests, ships, or shores” or allowing fish to be thrown onto fields during herring seasons. By highlighting a variety of carefully selected legal provisions, we offered people a unique glimpse into medieval life, which became the foundation for the visual storytelling.
Each poster featured an individual law from the Codex Hardenbergianus, a manuscript from the 14th century, paired with illustrations carefully referenced from the book and reimagined in a new context. By digitally processing the illustrations as well as adapting the historical details from the law, the design created a bridge between past and present, breathing new life into the history while still honoring their rich craftsmanship.
It was essential to develop a design system for the visual expression that was structured, scalable, and practical. This ensured consistency across all touchpoints while allowing flexibility for various formats and platforms. By creating a well-organized system, we could efficiently adapt the design for exhibitions, publications, digital content, and educational materials, making the design cohesive and easy to implement on a national scale.
Casefilm:
Awards:
2025 Visuelt National Design Award - Diploma
2024 Gullblyanten Design - Gold