First-Year Reading Experience Book Cover

The First-Year Reading Experience was designed to provide first-year students a book to read over the summer followed by meaningful programming in the fall semester. Every year, students in the School of Visual Art and Design are challenged with creating a book cover and poster that represents the first-year reading book. They present their designs to their classmates and a group of faculty and staff who form the FYRE book selection committee. 

This design won the 2021 competition for freshmen entering UofSC in 2022. It is featured on over 7,000 books and 5,000 posters, and will join a permanent exhibit in the university president's office and the School of Visual Art and Design gallery.

I was inspired by Dr. Eberhardt’s personal stories she shared throughout the book — in particular, a story her son shared with her of bias directed toward him in what he thought was a safe environment. The foremost element in this design is the lone dark umbrella that stands alone in a sea of light umbrellas. The way the light umbrellas part around the dark umbrella, veering off of the designated safe path to avoid it, represents society’s subconscious impulse to alienate people who appear ‘different,’ and harkens back to the bias experienced by the author’s son. The words hidden under umbrellas mirror the way we try to hide our implicit biases, but they show themselves regardless of our efforts.Finally, blazing color into a black-and-white world is the title, illuminated in the traditional symbol for aggression and violence — red. Notice, it is also partially hidden under an umbrella, symbolizing society’s hidden anger caused by its own biases.  When readers see this design, I hope they will feel a sense of curiosity, unease, and the courage to face this problem head-on.
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