Book Design
During my time at the University of Iowa, I worked as a graphic designer for two literary magazines. I was a founding member and Creative Director of Zenith Literary Magazine, which published four issues during my time there. In addition to contributing to the submission review and copyediting process, my primary role focused on leading the design team in typesetting and designing the magazine’s interior layouts and covers, as well as creating social media graphics and promotional materials.
I also worked as a designer for Wilder Things Magazine, where I focused primarily on designing the covers for Issues 2 and 3 and contributed to select social media graphics.
Zenith Issue 4: Swan Song
The aesthetic for this issue blends elements of light academia with subtle cottage core influences. The cover design was inspired by vintage storybooks, with the swan serving as a central symbol of the theme Swan Song. While the phrase traditionally represents an ending, we intentionally designed the issue to feel somewhat unfinished. Loose papers and scattered notes throughout the composition suggest an ongoing narrative, that the story is still unfolding rather than fully concluding. I designed the cover and completed approximately half of the interior typesetting and layout design.
Zenith Issue 3: Wasteland
This issue explores the tension between isolation and creative possibility. The visual direction reflects a melancholic landscape that feels both desolate and generative, an arid beginning from which creativity can emerge. The design draws inspiration from vintage postcards and the bold colors of desert sand dunes. The car featured on the cover represents the possibility of escape, though it remains surrounded by the dunes, reinforcing the theme of entrapment. Interior layouts feature sharp, geometric forms that echo the harshness of the environment. I collaborated closely with the design team on both the cover and interior layouts.
Zenith Issue 2: Transcending the Self
The visual concept for this issue combined dark academia with themes of introspection and self-reflection. The cover concept was initially designed by another team member and later refined and completed by me. It was inspired by antique “lover’s eye” portraits, small paintings of a single eye historically given as tokens of affection, symbolizing the idea that the eyes are a window to the soul. The interior design was intentionally restrained, using soft shapes and a consistent color palette to create a calm, contemplative reading experience.
Wilder Things – Issues 2 & 3
Wilder Things is a literary magazine dedicated to speculative fiction, with a focus on genres that are often underrepresented in traditional literary publishing. Each issue centers on a specific genre; Issue 2 focused on science fiction, while Issue 3 explored horror. My primary role was designing the covers, ensuring each visually captured the tone and themes of its genre.
Issue 2 – Science Fiction
For the science fiction issue, I wanted to create a scene that felt uncanny and unfamiliar. The central “planet” was intentionally designed to look unlike anything recognizable, reflecting the speculative nature of the genre and the idea of encountering the unknown. The red color palette introduces a sense of tension and foreboding, while the beam of light cutting through the composition suggests the possibility of another presence—hinting that we may not be alone, though what lies beyond remains uncertain.
Issue 3 – Horror
The design process for the horror issue initially leaned toward more explicit imagery, but as the concept developed, I moved toward a subtler approach. I found that the most effective horror often comes from what is implied rather than shown. The final cover features a dark, looming castle illuminated by a single streak of light (a visual callback to the beam from Issue 2). By keeping much of the scene obscured, the design relies on atmosphere and suggestion, reinforcing the idea that the most unsettling elements are often the ones we cannot fully see.
