Summertime: Odes to LA  ︎

A Poetry Anthology « 2020-2021

︎ Graphic Design, Print Design, Website Design

My Role: Graphic Designer, Layout Designer, Website Designer

Programs Used: Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop
Creative Director: Carlos López Estrada
Editors: Mila Cuda, Hanna Harris, and Marcus James

Summertime Odes to LA is an anthology of creative work, brought to you by the minds behind the feature film Summertime (2021). The book showcases an array of work that uncovers the often unseen corners of Los Angeles: poems from the movie, behind the scenes photographs, and deleted scenes. Along with new musings, such as essays, paintings, and collaborations with over 40 visual artists. An artful ode to the city we call home, SOTLA invites readers to dive into the stories of everyday people from a city with mythic grandeur. This anthology takes you on a journey through the valley of angels, illuminating the glamour, risk, heartache, and love that live in all of us—not just on Hollywood Blvd. SOTLA is your portal to & portrait of Los Angeles. 

I was commissioned to create the book design and layout for Summertime: Odes to LA. From layout, my role expanded to creating graphics and gifs to promote the book and film, and designing the book sales website.

As public transportation was a primary motif for the book, I cut out and edited parts of the LA metro and bus from photographs Carlos took to use for the covers, within the book, and as decorations throughout the website. I was inspired by the gestures and directioning in metro signage.

I illustrated a version of the metro M to use for the letter M in titles throughout the book and the bus window and doors can be seen as frames on the book site and on the covers.


The book sales and promotional website I designed for the release of the book. Live at summertimeodestola.com