The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Dust Jacket Concept
The Mission
Design a print-ready dust jacket for Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. The flat dimensions are 16.5" x 7.5", including 1.5" for the spine and 2.5" for each flap. The book itself is 5" x 7.5".
Design a print-ready dust jacket for Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. The flat dimensions are 16.5" x 7.5", including 1.5" for the spine and 2.5" for each flap. The book itself is 5" x 7.5".
Services
Illustration
Digital Painting
Book Cover Design
Typographic Layout
Illustration
Digital Painting
Book Cover Design
Typographic Layout
Software Used
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Photoshop
Research Phase
My goal here was to create a moodboard that contained images which evoked the mood and colors that I felt represented the story. I gravitated towards somber yellows and deep ambers as they elicit feelings of dreariness while still capturing a sense of fantasy. I also wrote out major descriptors of the book to help brainstorm the imagery and typography.
Concept Phase
Channeling the famous designer, Chip Kidd, I set out to create a fused metaphor. The goal was to make an illustration that hints at the content of the book symbolically while still appealing to the Fantasy/Sci-Fi audience who tend to prefer more "painterly" style graphics.
My initial concept was to feature the main character, Locke Lamora, with intense lighting to convey his vague identity. Over his mouth, a vectorized William Morris rose to represent his flowerly lies that build up throughout the story. I decided this illustration did not fit the genre of the book.
With a loosened hand, I painted a very rough sketch in under 10 minutes. The face is obscured completely, telling the viewer we do not get to truly know this character. He wears a feathered cavalier hat, a nod to his elaborate disguises. On the back cover, he begins to roll a coin across his knuckles, a common motif of a thief.
Design Phase
The character's enshrouded face created a perfect "box" for some delicious type. I chose Moret, a display serif typeface, due to its balance of old European looks and modern appeal. I placed the title over his mouth to further the convey the lies the main character spews. To pair with Moret, I went with Alegreya Sans, a humanist sans serif, for its calligraphic-like charm.
