Publication design project
The quiet
spectrum
spectrum
Project Overview
The Quiet Spectrum is a print and digital publication created to showcase the work of artist Tiemar Tegene. Known for her layered monoprints and emotional portraiture, Tegene’s art demanded a design that respected its texture, depth, and narrative intensity.
This project includes a high-end printed book and an iPad eBook app, both designed to offer different ways of experiencing the same body of work—one tactile, one interactive.
Challenge / Goal
The main challenge was to design a publication that felt as powerful and quiet as the work itself. The book had to be a platform for her art—not something that overshadowed it, but something that held it with intention.Additionally, the digital adaptation had to rethink the experience for mobile users, using motion, hierarchy, and responsive grids to maintain a strong reading rhythm on screen.
creative approach
Print Design
The cover features a bold portrait in red and black, immediately evoking the intensity of Tegene’s monoprint work.
The artist’s name is centered and loud in red sans-serif type, while the title The Quiet Spectrum is subtly embedded within the artist’s name on the spine—a visual gesture that speaks to the quietness of the title and the intimacy of the book’s voice.
The layout inside was treated like a visual gallery: clean spreads, generous white space, and careful pacing to let the images breathe.
Paper stock and print finish were chosen to enhance texture and contrast, echoing the tactile nature of Tegene’s process.
iPad eBook App
Designed as an interactive version of the book, using swipe navigation and soft transitions to keep the reading flow natural and immersive.
Grid-based layout adapts to different sections, offering flexibility while keeping consistency.
Pages balance text, image, and motion, allowing users to explore at their own rhythm—similar to flipping through an exhibition catalog.
The video linked here showcases the app’s functionality and storytelling rhythm.
outcome / solution
The final project is a dual-format publication that speaks to different user needs:
The print version serves as a collectible, beautifully-bound object that honors the physicality of Tegene’s art.
The iPad version brings her work into an accessible, interactive medium that can reach wider audiences.
Together, they create a quiet yet powerful spectrum of experience—true to the title and to the artist’s voice.
reflection
This project was a study in contrast and balance: loud vs quiet, print vs digital, control vs flow. It challenged me to:
Design for both physical and digital mediums with equal care
Let content lead the layout
Use typography and space to support—not compete with—the art
The Quiet Spectrum reminded me that sometimes, design's most important job is to get out of the way—while still being intentional.
