My book is multifaceted work in that it is autobiographical, informational and historical. However, the overall genre my book would fall into is non-fiction. This book is a culmination of my life experiences in Martinsville as well as a brief history. Along with the history of Martinsville, the book covers the economic decline and the struggle for revitalization.



Living in small town for the majority my life has taught me to appreciate the delicate simplicity of my surroundings. I strove to convey this simplicity through my photographs of what life is like in my hometown, supplemented by what I have written. My book was designed to embody this beautiful simplicity. Several small towns in the U.S. are currently suffering the same plight as Martinsville. I hope for the reader to connect with me and to understand where I am coming from.



This piece of work is a synthesis of my entire education at George Mason University in that I have used all of the design skills I have learned over the past two and half years in the creation of this book. I employed several techniques I learned when taking photography in shooting the images of my hometown. Without learning the principles and elements (the basics) of Graphic Design I would not have been able to build a foundation for my book. The book is a representation of myself and, in several ways; design is a big part of who I am.