Photo Fuel:
Book Design & Layout
2020
Photo Fuel is a poetry collection written by an independent author based in Victoria, BC. The book blends vivid imagery and introspective storytelling, aiming to evoke a cinematic, sensory reading experience.
I worked directly with the author to design the full interior layout, from grid and margin setup to typographic choices, pacing, and final formatting for print. The goal was to translate the tone of the writing into a print-ready design that felt both polished and personal while meeting the technical requirements of Amazon’s KDP self-publishing platform.
Overview
How might we design a book cover & layout that honors the tone and pacing of the poetry while creating a cohesive, print-ready reading experience?
The challenge
The design process began with understanding the tone and rhythm of the poetry, then translating it into something that felt deliberate, provocative, and easy to navigate. I moved from literal depictions—images of fuels and flames—to more symbolic treatments: photographic “fuel,” a glowing appetite for poems that ignite and inspire.
I explored typography, spacing, and page structure to create a system that could support varying poem lengths while maintaining visual consistency.
Developing concepts
Design process
I went back to the client applying their revisions. I tightened up typography, spacing, and page structure to reflect the poems’ pacing and to create a consistent system that supports varying poem lengths and photo sizes.
Adjustments were made to line length, margins, and hierarchy so each poem reads naturally while maintaining overall visual unity; I also implemented the client’s specific notes on type size and widow/orphan control to improve flow and legibility.
Client review & revisions
Design process
The result is a restrained, cohesive design that prioritizes legibility and flow, allowing each poem’s pacing to breathe while maintaining overall unity across the book. I assisted with KDP publishing, guiding format and proof checks, and the author was extremely satisfied with the polished final product.
Final book layout
Design solution