reSentencing: Volume 2
The reSentencing Journal is a powerful collection of poems, essays, stories, and visual art created by currently and formerly incarcerated individuals. This beautiful anthology provides a platform for creative expression, showcasing the extraordinary talent and unique perspectives of those who have experienced the realities of imprisonment and freedom. The journal reimagines the complex narratives of justice and personal transformation, offering a deeply personal and thought-provoking exploration of the U.S. prison system.
In the spring of 2024, I had the honor of being approached by the Art Director and Designer of reSentencing Volume 1 to contribute to Volume 2. Tasked with laying out, designing, and preparing the journal for print, I collaborated with another designer to refresh and continue the visual identity of the publication, while staying true to the previous design.
The Challenge
The project posed a unique challenge: creating a cohesive 200-page anthology that seamlessly integrates a variety of artistic and literary forms—poetry, essays, short stories, and visual art—each requiring distinct treatments. How could we honor the diversity of these mediums while maintaining a unified and cohesive design?
The Solution
Rather than forcing these different forms to blend indistinguishably, we embraced their uniqueness. Each spread is designed to highlight the contrasts between text and image, poetry and prose, art and writing. This layout evolved to reflect the dynamic nature of the content, using varied page treatments to honor the individuality of each piece while ensuring the overall design felt intentional. This approach not only celebrated the diversity of the contributors’ work but also created an engaging reading experience that allowed each form to shine.
Poetry
visual
arts
Short
Story
Skills Developed
Throughout my work on reSentencing Volume 2, I gained invaluable skills that expanded my design expertise. Under the guidance of the Art Director, I learned how to take a publication from initial concept to final press-ready files. This hands-on experience taught me the intricacies of managing a publication’s lifecycle, from layout and design to preparing it for production.
One key aspect of the process involved preparing the document for offset printing in Turkey, where I honed my technical knowledge of print specifications and production workflows. Additionally, I developed a keen eye for detailed color correction, ensuring the vibrancy and accuracy of every image and design element across the entire publication. This experience deepened my understanding of the importance of precision in design, especially when preparing work for print at an international scale.