Sprung Formal Issue 20, Spring 2025

Sprung Formal is the annual open-submission poetry and art publication produced at the Kansas City Art Institute. Being part of the interdisciplinary design course, the class was responsible for developing a unique visual identity and promotional campaign to support the end-of-semester release, including a printed publication and branded materials such as tote bags, bookmarks, buttons, keychains, posters, and social media assets. Our theme was centered on the intimacy of gathering around a table with friends and family, where food, drink, and music become the backdrop for shared stories, memories, and connection. Framing the publication as a kind of communal table allowed each poem and artwork to feel like a different voice joining the conversation, contributing to a larger atmosphere of warmth, reflection, and shared experience.

My role on our team was to create all spot illustrations used throughout the publication and across all promotional deliverables, where I worked to develop a consistent visual language.
I selected the typefaces used in the book, helping to establish a typographic aesthetic that guided both the publication’s layout and readability and suited the identity of the ‘Dinner Party’.

Check out the merchandise here! https://artsupplies.kcai.edu/search/sprung+formal/

photos by jake waeltermann