Adapt or Die began as a hand-drawing I made late one night, an instinctive burst of creativity while experimenting with colored pencils. At the time, I was feeling overwhelmed by the chaos in my environment, and this drawing became an outlet for all of that frustration. It was messy, expressive, and full of emotion, something about it felt honest.
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I couldn’t stop thinking about the image. It stayed with me, and over time, it evolved into the foundation for a short story I wrote, blending fictional moments with very real emotional undertones. Adapt or Die is about navigating internal collapse in a world that refuses to slow down, about transformation, survival, and the tension between control and surrender.
Book Cover Design + Short Story
ADAPT OR DIE
EDITORIAL DESIGN
THE PROCESS
I designed a book cover around the original drawing, preserving its raw energy and letting it guide the visual direction of the piece. I kept the layout minimal to let the illustration breathe and used typography that echoed the story’s tone, bold, sharp, and urgent.
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This project is a reflection of how instinctive creativity can become something much larger, a drawing turned into a story, a story turned into a design. It’s one of the most personal pieces I’ve made, and it serves as a reminder that even in the midst of chaos, there’s space to create something meaningful.
This project was awarded the INK Award at the 2025 Salt Lake Community College Student Art Showcase.
