Beyond a Life's sentences

The goal of After/Life was to create an editorial workbook that bring attention to the long-term incarceration and social re-entry stories, providing students in law, social work, psychology, and the humanities with an immersive learning tool as they're often reduced to statistics or policy debates, instead of fostering empathy and critical engagement. A key objective was balancing the project’s gravity with accessibility, where the design has to invite reflection and engagement instead of pure consumption.

The process began with the organizing of interviews and imagery into a clear narrative structure that would not overwhelm readers. Multiple cover designs, layouts, typography, and photographic material were considered to determine the best way to keep the reader on the key focus of the book, the stories.

The final result is an interactive curated experience that makes the heavy stories easier to engage with without simplifying them. The design doesn’t overpower the reader, but with variation and rhythm the photography and testimonies get equal focus. By prioritizing clarity and pacing, the publication creates space for reflection while maintaining visual strength.