The sky was the grid

The Universe is a reimagined coffee table book that treats space as a subject and design principle. Inspired by a beloved science book from the client’s childhood, the goal was to elevate its original content through a highly visual, experimental lens. Using the celestial sky as a structural grid, every element—text, imagery, and negative space—was mapped to the stars. The result is a modern, artful homage to scientific wonder designed to spark curiosity and conversation.

CHALLENGE
The original book held deep nostalgic value, but its content was outdated—making it more of a visual artifact than a readable or relevant piece. The challenge wasn’t just to redesign and reframe the book entirely: transforming a dated science title into an experimental object that could hold meaning through form, not just facts.

SOLUTION
I approached the redesign by using space to structure space—letting the celestial sky guide the layout as a conceptual and literal grid. The content was treated as texture and symbol, allowing design to lead the experience. With a dust jacket tied to the summer night sky in Los Angeles, the book became a personal, poetic object—less reference manual, more visual meditation.