Fairlight Books “How-to”
Series Cover Design
In 2019 I was approached by UK publisher Fairlight Books to design their upcoming non-fiction “How-to” series. This collection of books will have a variety of authors and subjects, from how to sleep better to how to treat the planet.
You can read about the process and more in my interview with Fairlight Books.
The series design had to be both flexible and accessible. It needed to cover unexpected variables that may arise, like multiple authors or a long subtitle, and be painless enough when prepared in-house in the future. With this in mind, I focused my attention on the simplicity of lines, colors, and typography, as opposed to bespoke illustration or custom typographic treatments.
chosen direction
For this direction I paired Lydian and Caslon together with a double line border. The timelessness of Lydian and the traditional feel of Caslon create a simple and harmonious design. The lines provide a sense of structure while the pastel colors feel energetic and modern.
A lined pattern is printed on the reverse side of the paperback. French flaps and uncoated cream paper help create a bespoke, contemporary look.
Guidelines provided for in-house use.
unused proposals
This design uses an alternating geometric pattern, drawn by Ezhevika for Shutterstock.
Simple design with large typography and no lines.