HOW THE WEST WAS WORN

Role: Book Designer | Photo Editor | Layout + Design

I undertook a book design project, creating a fashion photography table book titled, “How the West was Worn: Fashions of the Black West.” The book aimed to capture the beauty, spirit and confidence of fashion-forward cowboys and cowgirls while honoring their historic accomplishments. To create this book, I used a grid, developed a typography design system, and created imagery highlighting their fashions in different environments.

Tools Used: Adobe Photoshop | Adobe InDesign

For the book’s layout, I employed a grid system to ensure visual consistency and coherence. By dividing the pages into columns and rows, I created a balanced structure that allowed for the seamless integration of text and imagery. The grid also facilitated a clean and organized design aesthetic, which complemented the theme of the book, as well as the stylized imagery.

I carefully selected typefaces that embodied the bold impact of the Black West while maintaining readability and elegance. I chose a sans serif typeface to give a visual contrast to the book’s content with a modern and clean look. I desired the attention be on the images, which are very bright and colorful, with patterns and many contrasting elements. The individuals photographed mixed western fashion with modern pieces that blended the past with the present.

To visualize expanding this book project, I transferred the images into a gallery show at a prominent museum. The exhibit aimed to bring the book’s visuals and narrative to life, creating an immersive experience for visitors. I created mock-up advertisements to promote the museum exhibit, leveraging the book’s visual elements and typography design system to generate curiosity and anticipation among the target audience. To fully imagine marketing “How the West was Worn” I also creating website mockups that would explain the exhibit online.