Maria Ionesco
Visual artist & author, exploring the branding design space.
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Author & Creative Director | Illustrated Poetry Book
A self-initiated 40-page illustrated poetry book developed as a fully integrated editorial and visual storytelling project. This publication was conceived, written, illustrated, and designed entirely by me, reflecting a unified creative vision from concept to final production.
As the sole creator, I was responsible for every aspect of the project, including the original poetic writing, illustration, creative direction, editorial design, typography, layout, visual identity, and print production. Every element was carefully developed to establish a cohesive relationship between text and imagery, creating an immersive and emotionally resonant reading experience.
This project showcases my ability to lead a multidisciplinary creative process, combining conceptual thinking, illustration, storytelling, branding, and publication design into a refined and professionally executed final product.
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Veridis Quo is a science-fiction comic book series set in a parallel universe where time is relative and multiple timelines intersect and overlap. Ancient civilizations coexist with modern and digital worlds, creating an intense and mysterious universe brought to life through mixed media, combining ink, watercolor, and digital techniques using Procreate and Adobe software.
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Light Years Ahead — Worldbuilding, Book Design & Brand Identity
Light Years Ahead is an 80-page illustrated storybook that explores themes of self-discovery, resilience, and personal growth through a whimsical, fairy tale-inspired narrative. Conceived as a complete creative universe, the project combines storytelling, illustration, editorial design, character development, product design, and branding into a cohesive visual experience.
As the sole creator of the project, I developed every aspect of its creative direction. I wrote the original story, illustrated every page, designed the book's layout, typography, and visual identity, and oversaw the complete editorial design from concept to print-ready production. Every illustration, composition, and design decision was carefully crafted to support the narrative and immerse the reader in the world of Light Years Ahead.
Extending beyond the publication itself, the project includes a series of handcrafted character prototypes inspired by the book's protagonists. Each collectible toy was designed and assembled entirely by hand, with custom packaging created specifically to complement the visual language of the story and strengthen its brand identity.
To complete the project as a fully realized branding case study, I also designed a collection of advertising posters and promotional materials that expand the fictional universe across multiple visual touchpoints. Together, the book, handcrafted products, packaging, and campaign assets form a unified brand ecosystem, demonstrating a multidisciplinary approach that bridges illustration, storytelling, editorial design, product design, packaging, and visual communication.
Every component of Light Years Ahead was developed with meticulous attention to craftsmanship, consistency, and detail, resulting in a cohesive and immersive creative project built entirely from an original concept.
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SCAMMING OUT! - POSTER SERIES
A three-poster series exploring online scams and cybercrime, focusing on digital manipulation, trust and vulnerability in an increasingly connected world.
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