Dr. Eli Grey: Book Cover & Landing Page Design
Project Info
Year
Type
Roles
Tools
Overview
Dr. Eli Grey is the pen name of a U.S.-based psychiatrist who wanted to publish spiritually provocative writing while protecting his professional identity. With no prior online presence and minimal assets, the project began as a book cover and expanded into a small, yet meaningful visual identity, landing page, and graphics.
At the heart of the challenge: how do you create something that feels personal and trustworthy—without showing a face?
Challenge
- Anonymous by choice: No photos, no backstory, and no author bio—just a pen name and a message to share.
- Bold in content: Dr. Grey’s writing blends mysticism, philosophy, humor, and spiritual reflection to challenge conventional beliefs.
- Designing intimacy without identity: The task was to create warmth and human connection without traditional branding cues—only a name, a question, and a desire to be heard.
Goals
- Design a book cover that reflects the title’s humor and existential weight
- Develop a symbolic, human-centered visual identity from scratch
- Build a one-page site that feels warm, trustworthy, and designed to convert.
Concept
With anonymity as a creative constraint, the visual identity had to do the heavy lifting—inviting curiosity, evoking emotion, and building trust.
- Book Cover: A starry night sky sets the scene for a glowing drama mask formed by constellations. “COMEDY” shines in vintage marquee lights—echoing the theatrical drama of life—while handwritten type adds intimacy to the cosmic, philosophical question.
- Landing Page: A scroll-based, single-page experience flows gently from Dr. Grey’s message into the book feature and reseller links, ending with a quiet invitation to connect.
Approach
We began with a guiding question: How do you create something that feels personal and trustworthy—without showing a face?
With limited content and strict boundaries around anonymity, the design leaned on metaphor, symbolism, and emotional cues to make the unseen feel intimate.
- Typographic Portrait: Based on a photo of Dr. Grey, I created an abstract “face” using matrix-style characters and subtle shading to suggest a gentle smile—evoking warmth, mystery, and humanity without literal imagery.
- Colour Psychology: The palette reflected the emotional range of the message—purple for intuition, blue for intellect, yellow for emotion, and white for peace.
- Tone & Typography: Imperfect typewriter-style headlines paired with clean sans-serif body copy created a balance of rawness and clarity—mirroring the message’s blend of philosophy, humor, and vulnerability.
Results
This project showcases what’s possible when storytelling leads. With little input and no face to show, we shaped a presence that felt thoughtful, mysterious, and human. The design stands as an example of how meaningful branding doesn’t always require exposure, just intention.
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