Ninth Letter
Interior Spread Design

Project overview,
creative solution & impact

Designed a 4-page spread for Irish author William Wall's "What Slim Boy Oh Pyrrha," a powerful short story exploring a young soldier's descent into madness during an absurd war. The design needed to enhance the narrative's emotional impact while maintaining readability for the literary audience.

I developed a visceral visual language that mirrors the story's brutal themes. Using distressed source imagery and incorporating actual mud into the hand lettering, I created tactile, battlefield-inspired textures that immerse readers in the protagonist's psychological and physical deterioration. The rough, organic treatment contrasts with traditional clean typography to reflect the chaos of war.

The spread successfully amplifies Wall's haunting narrative through thoughtful visual interpretation, creating an integrated reading experience that honors both the literary content and design craft. The work was selected for CMYK Magazine's emerging talent portfolio, demonstrating professional recognition within the design community.

Skills: Editorial design, typography, mixed-media techniques, narrative visualization, texture creation, publication layout