Sawv Tsees Rov Hlo Los
Reclaiming Language Through Bilingual Poetry Design
Client: Pa N. Vue
My Role: Publication Designer, Production Coordinator
Challenge: Design a bilingual Hmong-English poetry collection that honors the complexity of language reclamation while creating accessible reading experiences for heritage learners and multilingual audiences exploring themes of displacement and cultural preservation.
Building on our previous collaborations, I provided complete book design for this 100+ page collection, with design layouts guided by Pa's vision for a classic yet modern aesthetic:
Classic-Modern Typography Development: Tested multiple serif font options with Pa to achieve her vision of timeless poetry book aesthetics with contemporary accessibility. Selected typography that gave the collection a classic printed poetry feel while ensuring readability across both Hmong and English text, making the work feel enduring and respectful of literary tradition.
Collaborative Design Refinement: Leveraged our established creative partnership to develop cover design and interior layouts that authentically captured Pa's exploration of reclaiming the Hmong language.
Self-Publishing Production Expertise: Managed comprehensive file preparation including proper ISBN formatting and template setup for Pa's chosen print-on-demand platform. Provided recommendations for self-publishing options and ensured all files were correctly formatted for both print-ready production and ePub distribution, streamlining her independent publishing process
Heritage-Focused Layout Strategy: Created page layouts and typography hierarchy that specifically supported heritage language learners reconnecting with Hmong, while maintaining the scholarly depth and timeless aesthetic Pa envisioned. Balanced cultural authenticity with modern publishing standards to create an accessible yet respectful reading experience
Note: Limited details shared as book is currently in pre-publication stage