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.
impact
Strengthened storytelling through design, capturing mood, emotion, and narrative in every visual decision.
Mastered the art of weaving typography and imagery into a seamless, cohesive story.
Gained expertise in scaling a brand across various formats while maintaining its core essence.
Learned how to honor the heart of a timeless classic while refreshing it with modern design elements.
