This work is Panel 2 from the "Fall Series."

The "Fall Series" was created while enrolled in Design Technology and Concepts, a graphic design course, at the University of South Carolina.

The assigned prompt instructed students to choose any particular word, and to explore the different definitions via four graphic design panels. I chose the word "fall" and created a series that explored four metaphorical definitions of the word. This work featured various historical figures and fictional characters.

Created with Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.

The "Fall Series" was displayed at the Founders Hall Gallery at the University of South Carolina Lancaster during a group exhibition that focused on student works from Design Technology and Concepts and Typographic Design I.

Concept Design & Creativity [Group exhibition]. (2026). Founders Hall Gallery, University of South Carolina Lancaster.

For his panel, I chose to focus on a "fall from power." More specifically, the assassination of Roman Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar.

Caesar was a Roman general and statesman during the Roman Republic who later became "Dictator perpetuo." The Roman Senate believed that had become a tyrant, and they wished to bring democracy back to the Roman Republic.

On March 15th in 44 B.C.E., Caesar was assassinated by his fellow senators, the most notable being Marcus Junius Brutus. Allegedly, Brutus was like a son to Caesar, and he was a trusted person in his life. In the end, Brutus betrayed him, and Caesar died that day with 23 stab wounds.

However, the predicted return of democracy did not work as planned for the assassins. Caesar had become a popular leader across the Roman Republic and many citizens mourned him. The assassination of Caesar caused civil war to break out, and each of the assassins later died of unnatural causes.

It’s a cautionary tale. Caesar was a dictator who had amassed power that no person in public office should hold. However, the Roman Senate was filled with corrupt individuals who were fixated on their status of their own positions, and sought power themselves.

Caesar fell from power, as did his assassins. Arrogance, corruption, and an obsession with power was the cause of their fates.

Instead of using red and gold, colors that are typically associated with Ancient Rome, I decided to use purple and violet shades to portray Caesar instead.

Purple and violet dyes were rare throughout history until the rise of mass production. They were synthesized from the mucus of rare snails. Due to their rarity, only the wealthy and royals could afford the dyes. To this day, purple is associated with royalty. Caesar may not have necessarily come from a royal lineage, but he was treated as though he was royal.

The diagonal lines in the background represent the ancient halls of the Roman Senate. Lastly, the target on Caesar's silhouette represents the target that had been placed on him by his assassins.

A thirst for power was their folly.