// THE BRIEF //
GOALS
Design two visually cohesive book jackets or selected titles by Claire Messud, utilizing imagery and custom typography. The covers should feel stylistically unified as a collection while still speaking to each book’s unique narrative.
AUDIENCE
Avid readers and literary fiction enthusiasts who are drawn to reflective storytelling. The goal was to appeal to a visually driven, design-conscious book market while honoring the literary depth of Claire Messud’s work.
DELIVERABLES
• Two full book jacket designs (front, spine, inside flaps, and back)
• Original artwork overlays
• Distinctive typography for each title
• Cohesive visual system between covers
• Book marks for advertising of each book
// THE PROCESS //
CHALLENGES TO SOLVE
Create an illustrative and painterly aesthetic that evokes the emotional weight and dreamlike tone of each novel, without being too literal. Each cover had to use a different typographic treatment for the main title, while maintaining layout consistency and a cohesive visual identity.
RESEARCH & DISCOVERY
Read summaries and reviews of both novels to understand themes, tone, and emotional undercurrents
Analyzed cover trends in contemporary literary fiction to find opportunities for differentiation
Researched Claire Messud’s author brand and literary reception
// THE SOLUTION //
DESIGN DECISIONS
• Chose specific imagery (cropped and full-bleed) to maximize emotional impact and let the atmosphere set the tone
• Painted overlays were used to unify the two different photographic styles and bring an analog, human element
• Contrasting typography styles reinforced the difference in narrative tone while maintaining a branded series look
• Subtle, moody palettes reflect the introspective and layered tone of Claire Messud’s writing
Each book cover communicates the emotional tone and storyline of its respective novel while working together as a visual set. The Burning Girl uses soft sunset hues layered over an image of two girls in an expansive field, with the title floating in a quiet, unobtrusive type. In contrast, The Woman Upstairs features an apartment setting, washed in green gradients and painted overlay, with bold, retro-inspired type suggesting the artistic voice of the narrator. Both designs are unified through consistent layouts, painterly textures, and light touches that offer a dreamy, literary quality.
