State of Sophia

Taking cues from the visual language of state symbols—those oddly specific icons like state birds or flowers that feel random at first glance but reveal deeper stories—I set out to build a system of personal identity. If I were a state, what would my official symbols be? That question sparked The State of Sophia, a collection of illustrated emblems that offer a window into who I am and why.

The book itself takes the form of a blizzard book—a layered, unfolding structure filled with typeset and illustrated cards. Each symbol is hand-drawn to bring a sense of intimacy and coherence, creating a visual thread that ties the narrative together. Just as state symbols paint a portrait of regional identity, these personal icons tell my story through a curated lens of meaning, memory, and metaphor.