Client:
It Gets Better is a nonprofit which focuses on uplifting and empowering LGBTQ+ youth ages 13-24.
Objective:
The organization wanted to create an art anthology filled with various forms of artwork from queer youth focusing on the question, “What’s your LGBTQ+ Utopia?”. The question aimed to evoke art pieces which reflected the hopes and dreams of these youth for a future where LBGTQ+ people were widely accepted into society.
Outcome:
The book required several pieces in order to be successful: An enticing call for submissions, the book itself, and promotion of the book once it was available to the public for purchase. We would need to create a book that was visually interesting to our target demographic, but did not “speak over” their artwork. We needed the spreads to act as garnishes to the main piece, so a simple yet unique design was ideal.
This project’s design was a collaboration between myself, Jamilla Clarke, and Claire Tzo. I was responsible for the book’s creative direction, style guide, layout editing, and cover design. Jamilla was responsible for the first several drafts of the book’s layout and for creating the bulk of its core visual style. Claire assisted with creating several illustrations that are unique to each piece.
Queerbook sold out completely of the 500 copies made available for purchase.
STYLE GUIDE
Two talented artists, Jamilla Clarke and Claire Tzo, joined me in making Queerbook a visually cohesive and homemade-feeling product.
I designed this style guide to give to both of them in order to maintain cohesion among their work. Stylistically, we wanted to maintain a youthful, cut-and-paste, collage aesthetic. I took inspiration from brands like Spotify and Cartoon network, along with the playful “doodle-y” vibe found in school yearbooks and diaries.
AN INSIDE LOOK OF THE BOOK
Queerbook was a limited print publication and is no longer available for purchase. See below to have a preview of my favorite spreads, pieces, and accompanying illustrations. Artists are credited on their respective pages.
THE PACKAGE DESIGN
It Gets Better knew that they wanted the delivery and opening of Queerbook to be memorable. As seen in the video above, donors, influencers, brands, and other partners would receive their copies of Queerbook in a vibrant package decorated with art featured in the book. They would also receive other branded collateral from the organization, building excitement to dive into the book’s contents.
FEATURED WIDELY
ON TUMBLR
Tumblr agreed to collaborate with It Gets Better to provide a Tumblr Takeover for Queerbook. The takeover involved several platform wide advertisements of varying dimensions and promotion of the book through Tumblr’s official channels.
