This project is a contemporary minimalist book cover design and interior illustrations for Human Threads.
“Human Threads is a bold, kaleidoscopic collection of short stories and poems that moves between the raw, the absurd, and the deeply human. From cosmic betrayal in distant galaxies to awkward subway rides that turn unexpectedly dangerous, the anthology explores frustration, humor, vulnerability, and the fleeting moments of hope that connect people across strange and familiar worlds.”
In response to this richly varied material, I wanted the visual language to feel cohesive, atmospheric, and open to interpretation. The cover uses a clean white background with a delicate water vortex that suggests movement, and scattered symbolic fragments hidden inside the book. Its restrained composition creates a sense of tension and invites a slower, more contemplative reading.
The accompanying interior illustrations expand this visual world through surreal blue and teal imagery, including abstract figures, birds, tiles, bowls, and boats. Together, these elements create a poetic aesthetics that complements the anthology’s shifting emotional tones while giving the book a cohesive visual identity.
Overall, the project explores how minimalism and symbolic illustration can work together to support contemporary literary publishing in a way that feels elegant, introspective, and visually distinctive.
