Role: Illustration and Hand lettering for book cover
Year: 2024
We all love success stories, but my superpower is turning setbacks into momentum! If a project doesn’t go through, I create my own opportunity: keep drawing and making lettering for books.
This was originally a logo project for Salamandra Graphic, and I turned it into an illustrated cover with the vibe of a punchy book series 🙂
Custom wordmark design and illustration for a kids adventure series with a bold, contemporary voice.
When developing the cover for this publishing project, my goal was to create a strong image that would instantly connect with a middle grade audience and convey a sense of adventure, magic, and excitement. I explored five different concepts, each with its own visual narrative. Here’s the breakdown that helped me define the final direction:
A direct and symmetrical composition: the character faces forward while the dragon’s eyes frame the scene from behind.
✅ Pros:
• Super clear for a middle grade audience.
• The symmetry gives it an epic, “series” vibe.
• The dragon doesn’t steal the spotlight—it reinforces the focus.
🚩 Cons:
• Quite static, with little implied storytelling.
This one plays with a dramatic diagonal: the character looks ahead while the dragon looms above her, creating a strong visual relationship.
✅ Pros:
• Clear connection, almost a sense of complicity between the two.
• Diagonal composition adds tension and visual interest.
🚩 Cons:
• The dragon’s shape might lose impact at small sizes—it’ll depend on color and texture.
A very cinematic concept. The scale contrast delivers instant visual punch.
✅ Pros:
• Conveys adventure, mystery, and a hint of danger.
• The composition speaks for itself with strong visual impact.
🚩 Cons:
• The character appears very small, making it harder to connect emotionally.
This one explores a gentler relationship, perfect for a fantasy friendship story.
✅ Pros:
• Very sweet, more of a classic middle grade tone.
• It’s immediately clear that the relationship is important.
🚩 Cons:
• A bit soft for a first book cover—feels more like “chapter two.”
An intense, dynamic proposal: the character is in motion while the dragon’s eyes add atmosphere in the background.
✅ Pros:
• Clear action, the character feels powerful.
• The dragon adds mood without overpowering.
🚩 Cons:
• Could become visually cluttered if not carefully balanced (eyes, hair, sword…).
After reviewing all the options, I chose to move forward with Option 1.
It had the best of both worlds:
• Strong visual and commercial appeal.
• A sense of fantasy series energy with a touch of ornament and mystery—just right for the story’s universe.
I explored three logo options to find the best fit for a middle grade fantasy series. Here’s a quick breakdown of each:
🟢 What I like:
• Bold and commercial, with a strong “middle grade” feel.
• Reminiscent of series like Percy Jackson, with an irregular shape that stands out well.
🔴 To tweak:
• It takes up a lot of space and almost touches the dragon’s eyes—I’d adjust spacing to give it more breathing room.
🟢 What I like:
• Elegant and literary, thanks to the serif.
• Subtitle is more readable.
🔴 Why I ruled it out:
• Too serious for the cartoon style of the character, and less iconic at small sizes.
🟢 What I like:
• Has the strength of Option 1, but with a more refined touch.
• Good balance between energy and elegance.
🔴 To tweak:
• The ornamental “I” competes with the dragon’s eyes—I’d simplify it.
In the end, I’m creating a hybrid between Option 1 and Option 3:
I’ll keep the punchy silhouette and bold presence of Option 1, but simplify it by removing the ornament on the “I” to keep the focus on the dragon. It’s the best middle ground: it has commercial strength, respects the tone of the illustration, and adds an ornamental touch that speaks to the fantasy world.
