This project began as a graphic design internship and evolved into a very personal contribution. With no existing map or digital records, I collaborated with the cemetery’s volunteer caretaker, who is my boyfriend’s father, to create a complete mapping system for Summit Grove Cemetery in Kampsville, Illinois.

Using aerial photography, physical site visits, and hand-drawn notes, we designed a clear and accurate map and booklet directory. I transcribed and verified nearly 2,000 burial names, walking the grounds grave by grave to ensure precision. The final materials were designed to help families find loved ones more easily and to honor the memory of those buried here.

What started as a design assignment became a way to give back to a community that holds deep meaning for the people I care about.

Lucia Colli