As a child, I fell under the spell of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera—captivated by its sweeping music, tragic beauty, and haunting mystery. I devoured the book, watched the movie countless times, and even experienced the magic live on stage. When given the chance to choose a project for my Portfolio class in 2025, I knew exactly where my heart would lead me.
the phantom of the opera
overview
Role: Graphic Designer
Tools: Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Canva
Project Type: Book Design, Event Promotion, Visual Identity
What I Created:
Researched ideal audience.
Developed a romantic, haunting style.
Designed a full book jacket.
Created a matching anniversary poster.
Chose bold type and dramatic colors.
Presented designs with print mockups.
the challenge
One of the biggest challenges was nailing down a style and branding direction that felt true to the story’s haunting beauty while still feeling fresh and dramatic. I explored several visual approaches before landing on a minimal, bold design that used symbolism, expressive typography, and a spiraling composition to guide the viewer's eye.
ideal audience Research
For this project, I imagined an ideal audience member to help guide my design decisions—a Broadway-goer who deeply appreciates the arts, music, and timeless storytelling.
Meet the Ideal Phantom Audience:
Demographic: Ages 25–65, with a love for live theater and classical narratives
Interests: Musical theater, classical music, literature, gothic romance, vintage film, and visual arts
Personality: Emotionally intuitive, detail-oriented, and drawn to stories with depth, mystery, and emotional complexity
Style Preferences: Romantic, dramatic visuals; dark and rich color palettes; ornate or vintage-inspired design elements
Moodboard direction
These moodboards highlighted dramatic theatrical elements like silhouettes, roses, capes, masks, and classical architecture, with a dark romantic color palette of black, red, and white. These colors represented mystery, danger, and beauty—key emotional drivers of the story.
BOOK jacket
Hearing is believing, music is deceiving; Hard as lightning, soft as candlelight…
Dare you trust the music of the night?
At the heart: a cloaked, figure clutches a red rose over his heart—a symbol of love he knows he can never claim. A spiral of musical notes draws the eye inward, like a descent into the opera’s dark underbelly.
25th broadway anniversary poster
Those who have seen your face draw back in fear. I am the mask you wear, it's me they hear…
This 25th Anniversary poster captures the Phantom’s ghostly hold over the opera house—and over us.
A swirl of music notes sweeps upward, guiding the eye to a Phantom silhouette that, when seen from afar, reveals a ghostly face—a hidden presence haunting the stage and story.
