Client: Michelle Eberwein, Author, Certified Medical Assistant & Holistic Health Coach
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Project Type: Book Cover Design
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Project Type: Book Cover Design
Project Overview
This project for Michelle Eberwein was both challenging and deeply inspiring. Michelle’s book is a reflection of her personal life journey, filled with moments of pain and growth. My goal was to craft a book cover that would not only grab attention on the shelves but also encapsulate the emotional depth of the story, creating a visual connection with readers even before they opened the book.
Research & Strategy
To ensure the book would stand out in the competitive U.S. market, I began with an extensive analysis of book cover trends within the genre. This research revealed a saturation of bright and bold designs. Recognizing an opportunity to differentiate, I introduced a minimalist white border to contrast with the surrounding book covers, ensuring it would attract attention in bookstores.
I also analyzed the emotional tone of similar books, pinpointing how color and typography could align with the book’s message to evoke a strong emotional response from potential readers.
Creative Approach
The central design challenge was to reflect the theme of overcoming pain, while also conveying a sense of empowerment and resilience. The design process was broken into three key stages:
Color Palette: I chose a deep red and orange color scheme to represent both the pain and the eventual strength that comes from enduring hardship. These warm, vibrant tones create an emotional and visually striking effect that resonates with the book’s theme.
Typography: For the title, I selected AA Haymaker, a distressed, bold typeface that visually communicates the struggles the author faced. The font’s raw texture symbolizes both emotional turmoil and the strength that arises from it. This is contrasted with the clean, modern Barlow Thin font, which is used for the supporting text to ensure a balance of clarity and visual impact.
Visual Elements: The abstract, textured artwork used on the cover was developed to reflect the journey of transformation, while the white border frames the design, setting it apart from competing titles and adding a sense of refinement and uniqueness.
Design Execution
The final design was a synthesis of strategic thinking and creative execution. By balancing the emotional weight of the subject matter with visually striking elements, I was able to create a book cover that resonates with readers. The custom typography for the book title was a final touch, inspired by the artwork itself, which ties the overall design together.
Key Design Features:
Minimalist white border for market differentiation.
A bold, distressed font for the title, symbolizing emotional struggle.
Warm, vibrant color tones that evoke both pain and strength.
Abstract, textured artwork to reflect the personal journey within the book.
Outcome
The final cover design not only stands out on the shelf but also creates an immediate emotional connection with potential readers. Through a balance of research-driven strategy and creative design, the project successfully achieved its goal of visually reflecting the themes of personal growth, pain, and resilience, while maintaining a unique identity within its genre.
Skills & Tools:
Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator
Typography Design
Color Theory & Emotional Design
Market Research & Analysis
Branding & Visual Communication
