Display book for James Madison University’s School of Engineering.
The James Madison University xChange program is an annual event showcasing the capstone projects of the engineering students. It’s visual identity is unique each year. In 2019, the college president requested it be inspired by the The Beatles’ ‘White Album.’
The book consists of 34 projects spread across five sections, plus front matter and a gallery. Collaborating closely with faculty and students, I ensured each project received the attention it deserved. The challenge was to prevent monotony from overtaking the design when it employed such a spare aesthetic. As lead designer, I embraced this as an opportunity to introduce a modular format to the project spreads, a departure from the one-size-fits-all approach used in previous editions. This allowed for optimized layouts tailored to each project's unique content, maintaining cohesion while highlighting the diversity of the work.
The result was a visually striking book that captured the essence of The Beatles’ album while showcasing the ingenuity of JMU’s engineering students. Feedback from faculty and students was overwhelmingly positive, with many noting the improved design approach.
