Book Covers - Manual Design

MANUAL DESIGN - BOOK COVERS

Designing book covers for renowned Ex-Yugoslav authors, whose works are celebrated for their layered narratives and profound symbolism which posed a unique challenge: how to visually capture the depth and complexity of each story in a single, compelling image. It wasn’t just about designing something beautiful, it was about honoring the cultural and literary significance of these must-read books and making them resonate with both new and longtime readers.

SOLUTION

To reflect the richness of these stories, I took a completely manual, hands-on approach to the design process. I created each visual element using real materials cutting, layering, and photographing paper textures, symbols, and type by hand. I crafted manual typography, textured illustrations, and built multi-layered visuals that metaphorically represented the narrative depth of each book. Each cover features layers of paper leading to a central symbol carefully chosen to encapsulate the core message or emotional tone of the story.

This tactile, analog method brought a sense of authenticity, craftsmanship, and intentional symbolism that digital tools alone couldn’t achieve. The result was a series of book covers that not only stood out visually but paid tribute to the emotional and intellectual depth of these literary works.