Writing a book is always a challenging endeavour, but doing it while heavily pregnant added an extra layer of complexity. I finished my part of the writing of the book only a few days before giving birth, and the editing and design process was done mostly with my little baby daughter on my lap, during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. It was a test of patience, multitasking, and determination, but the result was worth it.

I wanted to create a unique and visually compelling book that would stand out on the shelves (real or digital) for its inside and out content. In order to ensure consistency and cohesion throughout the book and its marketing materials, I designed a brand style manual for the book, which included typography, colour palette, type of images, as well as the layout guidelines.

As you can observe in the document here below, we chose a clean and impactful colour palette consisting of black, white, and intense red for highlighting important images or text. We have also used red marginal lines to differentiate the workbook parts in the book. The typography selection includes three distinct typefaces, each serving a specific purpose: one for primary titles, another for chapter titles, and a third for plain text. To enhance the overall concept and style, halftone designs in black or red have been incorporated, adding visual interest and depth. Additionally, greyscale is utilized for photographs that are intended to remain in their original format.

The cover design reflects, I hope, the essence of the book, which is to help authors “leave their mark in the world”. After researching the competition and analysing the book’s target audience, we settled on a concept that incorporated bold typography and eye-catching colours to capture the attention of potential readers. For the same purpose, we chose a simple, yet powerful image of a hand (symbolizing any author, and, at the same time, the book itself) leaving a fingerprint on the “face” of the viewer/reader, who symbolizes anyone/the world. The composition is concluded by the use of lines and text, always following the brand style manual’s decisions.

Viewing the cover in comparison to other books of the niche in a crowded marketplace, it stands out for its uniqueness and originality. There are no pencils or pens, or even graphics of target achievement. Instead, the reader can appreciate a composition that places him/her at the centre of attention. The hand pointing/leaving a fingerprint works as a call-to-action image, much like the well-known US Army poster shown below (copying the idea was not intentional, it was probably due to a subconscious notion).

Finally, for the interior design of the book, I wanted to create a magazine-like, unique experience for the reader. To achieve this, I used countless layout designs, graphics, and “halftone” photographs, making it the longest and hardest editorial project I have ever worked on.