For my debut poetry collection Nature of the Beast: Poems for a Dying Millennium, I took on the full creative direction of the book’s visual identity—from cover design to interior layout and promotional collateral. I began by developing the cover in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, blending surreal and apocalyptic imagery to reflect the book’s core themes of transformation, loss, and reckoning. The fiery planetary motif on the front cover encapsulates the emotional intensity of the work, while the silhouetted figures underscore the human scale of the chaos. Every visual element was carefully selected and composed to evoke a sense of lyrical finality.

Once the cover art was finalized, I moved into Adobe InDesign to design the book’s layout. I paid close attention to typographic rhythm and readability, ensuring each poem was given space to breathe while maintaining a cohesive and elegant structure throughout. The interior typography reflects the book’s tone—contemporary yet rooted in literary tradition—and mirrors the emotional pacing of the collection. I also formatted the short story included in the book to stand apart slightly in both layout and flow, offering visual contrast while preserving harmony with the rest of the text.

In addition to the print production, I created a series of promotional graphics for social media to announce the release. Using Photoshop, I designed these assets to match the tone and style of the book, incorporating the cover art, publication details, and my own portrait to create a polished, branded look. These visuals were shared on Instagram and Facebook, helping to build anticipation leading up to the launch and to celebrate the book's availability on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

This project reflects the intersection of my skills as a graphic designer and writer. Handling all aspects of the design and promotion myself allowed me to fully align the visual narrative with the voice of the text—something especially important for a collection so personal in nature. It also demonstrates my ability to manage a complete design cycle, from concept and composition to publication and marketing.