Alice Mao is an illustrator, designer, and animator based in New Haven, Connecticut. This questionnaire-style book highlights Mao’s stunning artwork combined with her perspective on the art world.
Research
Alice Mao is one of my favorite artists I personally admire and take inspiration from. I knew I wanted to design something based off her work and decided to research with this goal in mind. I discovered an interview she was a part of and enjoyed her authenticity and humor. After some brainstorming, I came up with the idea to create a “Q&A” book that showcases my favorite work of hers.
The goal: successfully design a book that compliments and accentuates Mao’s style of art.
Moodboards
After researching Mao’s artwork, I sifted through and ordered select pieces by color. I made sure to incorporate a variety of work, including her photography, illustration, and design. During this process, I thought about how I could use my design to highlight Mao’s art. I noticed most of her illustrations had a certain “sketchy” quality and wanted to implement that in the final result.
Typography
I found it difficult to find typography that both fit the whimsical feeling of Mao’s work and didn’t overcrowd the design. Most playful typefaces paired well with the art but felt overwhelming, whereas simple typefaces kept things clean but didn’t match the aesthetic. After some consideration, I decided to draw my own text in combination with a simple sans-serif typeface. The two compliment each other while containing the same organic quality that Mao’s art has.
Final Flats
By using a grid, I aligned text and image elements while being cognizant of negative space. I experimented with scale, orientation, and implementation of hand written type to integrate into Mao’s work. I also chose typography colors that either provided contrast or coincided with each individual art piece. These design choices help achieve my goal of designing something unique within the stylistic confines of Mao’s art.
