This Bible Looks Like a Magazine – and That’s the Point

In an era of constant scrolling and sensory overload, Alabaster is doing something radical: slowing people down with beauty. The faith-based brand has reimagined the Bible and other spiritual texts through a striking blend of modern design, curated photography and deep reverence for Scripture.

What started as a moment of frustration and curiosity in college eventually became a Kickstarter success. “You might be surprised to hear that I didn’t grow up Christian,” says Alabaster co-founder Brian Chung. “I grew up in a Buddhist household, became Christian in college, and remember the first time getting a Bible as a Christian. The first couple of pages were things to fill out; it was about the translation, not the actual story of the Bible. The text was really small, and on top of that, it was on really thin paper. It was unlike any other book I had experienced.”

What stood out to him wasn’t just the content – but the packaging. Sitting beside his uninspired Bible was a college marketing textbook that looked more like a magazine. “I felt excited to read it, just because of how it was designed. And I thought to myself, could the Bible be designed differently, to look like a magazine?”

Ten years later, that thought sparked Alabaster’s first Kickstarter – and something much bigger. Since then, the brand has created beautifully bound, visually immersive editions of biblical books from Genesis to the Gospels, in addition to Bible Studies and Devotionals. While the aesthetic is undeniably modern, the mission runs deep.

The surprise? The books haven’t just resonated with churchgoers. “We set out to show that God cares about creativity; but what surprised us was how many non‑religious readers were drawn in by beauty alone,” says Chung. “On the flip side, Christians began leaving our books on coffee tables as conversation starters. Their friends would flip through the pages, comment on the photography, and then realize they were talking about the Bible.”

Each edition of Alabaster is developed with care, from page one. Head of Brand Samuel Han walks through the process: “Before a single photo is taken, every line of Scripture goes into a spreadsheet. Our Bible scholars list key themes and potential visual motifs verse by verse.” From that raw material, the team crafts a mood board and color story. The results are deeply intentional – Exodus rendered in slate grey to reflect water and wilderness, Daniel in bold red to reflect the rise and fall of empires. “Nothing is random: each photograph echoes a theological thread.”

It’s all part of Alabaster’s larger mission to blur the lines between the sacred and the everyday. “We thoughtfully design each product to invite people into a deeper spiritual experience within the rhythms of daily life,” Han explains. “The beauty isn’t just ornamental but more of an invitation.”

In an age of digital noise, where even sacred texts compete with notifications, Alabaster offers something tactile, focused and meditative. “Honestly, most of us, including me, reach for our phones to read Scripture, and the second we do, ping, there’s a notification,” Chung says. “That constant buzz makes it almost impossible to focus. My hope is that every Alabaster book gives people a chance to step away from the fast scroll, linger with the visuals, and meet God’s Word in a deeper, quieter space.”

For those just discovering Alabaster, Chung recommends starting with Psalms. “It captures the full spectrum of human emotion – joy, grief, doubt, praise – and our edition weaves those themes into some of our most striking photography.”

Looking ahead, the team isn’t rushing expansion for expansion’s sake. “We want to partner with others who share a respect for the sacred, but who also carry the ability to reach those who may not yet be familiar with spiritual practices,” says Han. “We’re interested in working with brands that feel authentic, thoughtful and creatively aligned.”

Their vision remains bold but rooted: to help more people experience God as beautiful. And in doing so, Alabaster is quietly redefining what it looks like to engage with the sacred – one beautifully designed page at a time.

To learn more, visit www.alabasterco.com.