Tidepools is a celebratory and exploratory design project. Designers are encouraged to experiment with the annual content themes and find different ways to artistically stimulate both themselves and the reader. For 2024, the primary themes were transitioning to a New Normal post-quarantine, breaking out of prior molds, reflecting on the physicality of the body, and creating a new chapter in the modern world.
In response to Tidepools 2024’s themes, we chose to represent “breaking the mold” and “reflection of the body” through punk-grunge fusion. Photocopied rippling assets, faded newspapers, and duotone body parts all press against each other, creating an organized chaos the internal copy nestles within.
Each subgenre utilizes two complimentary colors to contrast from each other. For poetry, we balanced the cover motif of magenta and cyan, geometric forms, and scissor-cut edges. Complimentary assets were placed with each poem in mind. Whorls melt off a spread dedicated to aging and saggy skin; in an ode to airplanes and heavenly bodies, a wing peeks into frame as if mid-takeoff.
Our initial vision was for design to communicate with poetry and the viewer to create a brand-new dialogue. Early drafts convey this vision, with emphasis on repeating lines, thematic elements, and text displayed to emulate the tone they carry. Concerns around reinterpretation were discussed mid-project; the text was ultimately displayed exactly as given in adherence to the client’s wishes, so as not to interfere with any original intent.
