Attracted to Light
Albert Morales' debut photographic journal
Art Direction
Publication Design
Layout
About the Project
When Bronx-native photographer Albert Morales first approached me, he didn't just have a folder of photos; he had a visual diary. The collection, "Attracted to Light," was a raw, intimate, and unfiltered look into his life, capturing the complex spectrum of friendship, romance, pain, and love.
The challenge was to translate this deeply personal and vulnerable body of work into a physical object. This was to be his first book and the debut of a planned annual series. We needed to create a physical diary that felt immediate and personal, like reading a stranger's journal, yet timeless and professional. The goal was to craft a book that felt like a complete, considered object, not just a gallery of images.
As the Art Director and Book Designer, I was responsible for the entire visual and tactile experience, from image sequencing and editing, to color stories and final layout details, ensuring the book is print-ready.
We spent weeks immersed in Albert's work, working closely with him to define the narrative. We sequenced the photos with a modular grid to create a flexible rhythm, moving the reader through moments of quiet solitude, tender intimacy, and bursts of raw, chaotic energy.
The "diary" concept became the anchor for the design. The images needed to be the main focal point, with little to no distractions. The layout grid is intentionally simple but flexible. This allowed some photographs to bleed off the page, consuming the viewer, while others sit quietly in a field of white space.
Reflections
This project was an excellent change of pace from my usual work in the digital space. It was a delicate balance between applying a strong design vision and knowing when to be invisible, letting the photography speak for itself. It reinforced the importance of immersing yourself in the work, building a narrative and showed how thoughtful, subtle design can provide the perfect vessel for a deeply personal story.