Calliope Art & Literary Book
Project
Role
Design editor in chief ‘25, Designer ‘24
Brief
Art direction, Publication layout, Cover design, Photography, Promotional materials
The Face of Steadfast
By chance, I saw an in-progress sculpture titled after the proverb
Speak No Evil—a snake slipping from a woman’s mouth. It struck me instantly. I brought it straight to the studio and it became the cover.
This year, Calliope broke tradition—replacing its usual illustrated reinterpretation of the muse with a sculpture.
The snake is slick; the woman’s face, weathered. Her haunting gaze holds you. The sculpture’s quiet intensity echoed the stories inside.
It came to symbolize staying rooted in your voice, even when it’s hard to speak. A quiet strength. A reclaiming of unspoken truths.
That’s the heart of Steadfast.
Sculpture by Maria Marquez
Photographed and designed by me
Abstract motion blur
A stoic sculpture in motion's blur. A flash of green hints at the snake—speed, tension, stillness.
COVER PHOTO VARIATIONS
Natural window light
Warm and soft, late-day sun through the panes. The artist said it looked straight out of a museum.
Intense studio glow
Harsh light. A raw, timeworn piece suspended in a glassy, digital space. Severe and haunting.
Photo Editing Process
I combined three lighting edits, from over to underexposed, and manually painted highlights and shadows for dramatic depth.
I digitally smoothed the snake to highlight the face’s raw texture.
Honoring the Story
I led a team of 5 designers to build a cohesive visual voice, while varied enough to stay engaging.
At the core of it all was honoring the intent of each featured artist and author.
Honoring the Story
I led a team of 5 designers to build a cohesive visual voice, while varied enough to stay engaging.
At the core of it all was honoring the intent of each featured artist and author.
PAGE LAYOUTS
I managed a team, leading the visual direction.
Designed with Caroline Rivera, Achish Enriquez, Lexie Wengiroth, Ashley Brown, Gabriel Jarata
My team marking up printed layouts
Reviewing digital layouts
Initial flyer by Literary team
My flyer design for Art submissions
Flyer Design for Submissions
I designed promotion to launch the call for student art submissions, keeping visuals consistent with existing Literary flyers.
I referenced staggered painted panels to add movement and guide the eye, shifting from the centered layout. I also paired
a complementary sans serif with an elegant serif in the style of the original design.
Digital Screen Ad,
Instagram Story Color Variations
Alternative Calliope Flyer Designs
Challenge
I worried the original flyer’s tone felt too limiting and might discourage submissions.
Solution
Since the book’s theme wasn’t decided, I explored different styles for the submission promotions.
A teammate complimented a bold flyer I had made for another org., noting how it stood out among mostly white-background flyers. This feedback led me to pivot to a brighter, more eye-catching design tailored for cluttered campus bulletin boards.
Reviving Calliope
Art submissions reached 230+ — a 50-year all-time record high!
Double the magazine’s average and eight times higher than the previous year since it restarted after the pandemic.
Literary submissions also quadrupled from the 2023–2024 edition.
