SENIOR THESIS:
Culture of the Game
Culture of the Game is a 72-page editorial publication that explores the heart of Chicago sports through the voices of those who live it every day. Rather than focusing solely on the games themselves, this project highlights the people behind the culture—fans, athletes, and professionals—whose passion, loyalty, and stories define what it means to be part of a sports city like Chicago.
Through original interviews and photography, the book captures authentic perspectives on community, identity, and belonging. Each spread is designed to reflect the energy, grit, and pride that exists both inside stadiums and throughout the city. The result is a visual and narrative exploration of how sports culture extends far beyond the field, shaping connections between people and place.
One of the biggest challenges throughout the creation of Culture of the Game was stepping outside of my comfort zone to connect with and interview new people. Since the project centered around authentic voices and experiences, I relied heavily on reaching out to strangers and asking them to trust me with their stories. Along with conducting interviews, I also challenged myself to produce original photography that captured the energy and emotion of Chicago sports culture in an honest way. Balancing my own photography with outsourced imagery while maintaining a cohesive visual identity throughout the book was another obstacle. Finding typography that felt unified across 72 pages while still reflecting the boldness and personality of Chicago sports culture required extensive experimentation and refinement.
Throughout this process, I learned not only how to conceptually build a publication, but also the technical side of editorial design. I gained experience formatting long-form layouts, organizing spreads, establishing visual consistency, and preparing a book for professional print production. More importantly, this project taught me the value of storytelling and human connection through design. Meeting new people, hearing their experiences, and translating those conversations into a visual narrative made this thesis incredibly fulfilling. What began as a design project quickly became a meaningful and enjoyable experience that strengthened both my creative confidence and my passion for community-centered storytelling.