Comic Book Design

Role

Illustrator

Client

Personal Project

Industry

Duration

1 month

A Single Word, Many Directions : The project began with the word coil, not as an object, but as a concept. It immediately drew me toward emotional spirals, looping thoughts, and the idea of spiralling out.

A Theme Close to Home : Instead of approaching it abstractly, I connected it to something I was actively experiencing: the mental pressure and self-expectation I felt while competing in ultimate frisbee.
A Fictional Mirror : To tell the story with some emotional distance, I created a character named Sarah; someone who carries pieces of my experience, but with space to dramatize and explore the journey more openly.

A Single Word, Many Directions : The project began with the word coil, not as an object, but as a concept. It immediately drew me toward emotional spirals, looping thoughts, and the idea of spiralling out.

A Theme Close to Home : Instead of approaching it abstractly, I connected it to something I was actively experiencing: the mental pressure and self-expectation I felt while competing in ultimate frisbee.
A Fictional Mirror : To tell the story with some emotional distance, I created a character named Sarah; someone who carries pieces of my experience, but with space to dramatize and explore the journey more openly.

Symbolism in Design : The word coil became a subtle visual system: Sarah’s shirt changes depending on her emotional state.
- Coils = anxiety or internal chaos
- Straight lines = confidence and grounding
- Mixed = transition or struggle
  The detail is deliberately quiet - meant to be discovered, not announced.
Color With Intention : I chose orange as the dominant color. It sits between discomfort and energy, representing anxiety, intensity, warmth, and momentum all at once. It reflects the emotional duality of the story.
Writing the Narrative : The story evolved over drafts. I used ChatGPT as a collaborative too l, not to define the story, but to help shape pacing, refine dialogue, and structure emotional beats while keeping the voice personal.

A Story That Feels Personal and Universal : The final comic explores what it feels like to spiral, stabilize, and regain control, without oversimplifying the experience. The subtle visual cues allow readers to interpret emotional shifts beyond dialogue.
A Quiet Narrative Twist : Those who notice the shirt detail experience a second narrative layer, transforming a visual choice into a storytelling reward.
A Lesson in Design + Emotion : This project showed me how illustration, narrative, and symbolic design can work together to express something internal, reminding me that sometimes the smallest elements speak the loudest.

A Story That Feels Personal and Universal : The final comic explores what it feels like to spiral, stabilize, and regain control, without oversimplifying the experience. The subtle visual cues allow readers to interpret emotional shifts beyond dialogue.
A Quiet Narrative Twist : Those who notice the shirt detail experience a second narrative layer, transforming a visual choice into a storytelling reward.
A Lesson in Design + Emotion : This project showed me how illustration, narrative, and symbolic design can work together to express something internal, reminding me that sometimes the smallest elements speak the loudest.