Examining institutional manipulation through design
A case study in aesthetic confusion
Overview
The Lanternfly Project explores how aesthetic confusion can be weaponized in public discourse through an invasive species crisis. The project mirrors corporate tactics of using visual ambiguity to paralyze public action, drawing parallels to how tobacco companies and oil companies have historically muddied urgent issues through sponsored messaging. The Spotted Lanternfly, arriving from Southeast Asia during COVID-19, serves as both metaphor and mascot for examining institutional manipulation and xenophobia.
Brand Identity
Editorial Design
Visual Research
Typography Systems
Print Design
Social Commentary
Brand Guidelines
Display Typography
Bookman JF Pro
Display Font - Headlines & Key Messaging
Bookman Swash
Subheadings & Important Callouts
Body Typography
Gotham - Large Body
20px / Leading statements
Gotham - Regular Body Text
16px / Main content
Typographic Tension
The interplay between Bookman JF Italic and Gotham creates intentional tension between:
- Institutional authority (Bookman) vs. Modern accessibility (Gotham)
- Historical New York vs. Contemporary New York
- Decorative display vs. Utilitarian information
Usage Guidelines
- Use Bookman JF Italic for headlines and impactful statements
- Reserve Gotham for body copy and detailed information
- Create hierarchical contrast through size and weight
- Employ typographic tension to reflect content themes
Core Color Palette
Primary (brand) color
#ff000
Primary Color
Secondary Supporting
#dab85
Cards and UI elements
Text Primary
#000000
Primary text color
Text Secondary
#ffffff
Secondary and muted text
Display Examples
The Lanternfly
Project
Body Examples
Process
The project's visual language plays with tension: between 'old' and 'new' New York in its typography (Bookman vs. Gotham), between institutional authority and approachability in its mascot, and between beauty and destruction in its subject matter—reflecting complex narratives of invasion, immigration, and public response during crisis.
