Portfolio
:format(webp)/99designs-contests-attachments/84/84863/attachment_84863903 "- The cogs represent the chapters of the book, as the author requested.
- Simple, professional, but with colour providing a lift away from 'boring'.")
:format(webp)/99designs-contests-attachments/84/84943/attachment_84943506 "The client wanted to show exploration and wonder, not just \"spaceship in front of a backlit planet\". The walking figures at different distance helped achieve this, as does the composition looking out at the world from some alien cave.")
:format(webp)/99designs-contests-attachments/84/84950/attachment_84950933 "The brief contained \"Die Hard meets Legally Blonde\" as a descriptor... I thought it made for a great tagline!
The client wanted something 50/50 masculine/feminine, which I believe I achieved.")
:format(webp)/99designs-contests-attachments/84/84033/attachment_84033780 "- This was some way from the author's initial brief, but their idea of a flower with a single petal left struck me. I expanded that into this cover. I'd say it's positioned as toward the mass market end of literary fiction.
- The even rythmn of the simple typography interspersed with petals is elegant, and echoed on the back cover with similarly spaced-out synopsis.
- The whole is meant to intrigue and slightly unsettle.")
:format(webp)/http://s3.amazonaws.com/projects-files/32/3296/329631/d507520d-8dbd-4294-a599-9c25ef060572.jpeg "- The client had specific images they wanted using, and they were challenging to fit together!
- I settled on a movie poster style layout, with heroes at top and the world-building detail below. The spaceship selected wasn't too dynamic, so I added in some ships that I mocked up from model components and photographed.
- Image editing, compositing and digital painting was done in Krita. Typography and layout done in Inkscape.
- The cloud effect was done with layers upon layers of Krita painting, and took a lot of work to get to client's satisfaction - I erred toward less, she wanted more. She was right! It really blends the imagery, hides the unwanted digital sharpness of the soldier, and cnojures the world the author wanted to evoke.
Fun and challenging project - more please! :-)")
:format(webp)/99designs-contests-attachments/85/85757/attachment_85757781 "The client wanted somethign 'hipster-y', so I took the hardcore/straight-edge cross design and combined that with broken bones. Given that cross often represents being teetotal, it being broken seemed a good fit for whisky!
- The neck seal is simply finished with leg bone designs. When you break the seal to open the bottle, you literally break the bones. I thought this would be a fun element that added to the drinker's pleasure.")
:format(webp)/99designs-contests-attachments/83/83497/attachment_83497304 "- I looked at market trends but also at what would stand out. The white background with ghosted imagery fit the Lee Child / James Patterson mould, whilst still standing out from the usual dark jackets on the shelf/screen.
- No reverse photo of the model on the cover was available. I used Krita to alter the silhouetted photo to be the model from the back, not the front.
- The client was fantastic to work with, revising the blurb when I felt it would have more impact as a shorter piece of text, and providing good input throughout. Together I think we've achieved a punchy jacket that fits the genre but stands out visually.")
:format(webp)/99designs-contests-attachments/85/85651/attachment_85651251 "- I wanted to create an ominous image, and type that clearly indicated 'fantasy', as well as being able to build into a strong series look with further covers.")
:format(webp)/99designs-contests-attachments/84/84583/attachment_84583375 "- The upside-down image and red colouration act in an unsettling way... it takes a moment to identify the imagery, and you're expecting a mystery.
- Bold, simple, elegant crime thriller typography
- Image editing and compositing done in Krita, type set in Inkscape")
:format(webp)/99designs-contests-attachments/82/82269/attachment_82269276 "- Simple graphic representations of all the elements...
- A coffee pot is used in the murder, so the coffee turns to blood as it pours... but in a non-gory way, to fit the genre.
- Magnifying glasses are the classic 'whodunnit' signifier, and they bring into focus the paw prints and bones, showing dogs, as well as coffee beans from the scene of the crime.")
:format(webp)/99designs-contests-attachments/83/83062/attachment_83062125 "- Simple, business-style book background, contrasted with an emoji laughing at the reader.
- This subverts genre norms to show Generation Z's contempt for the marketing ways of old, and entices you to read on and find out how to communicate with them.")
:format(webp)/http://s3.amazonaws.com/projects-files/32/3286/328692/35fa1e89-30f9-4094-90e2-5783f9a22203.jpeg "The client asked me to redesign the cover for their first novel. They wanted to keep a locket. Everything else was open to reinterpretation.
My initial cover that was more 'SF movie poster' - lights and colour to suggest sci-fi. The author wasn't keen on style or protagonist's looks.
I kept the gangsters and car, then I selected 5 different models. One of them was spot on for the author's mental image of the protagonist.
Now I chose the best pose to hold a locket. I photographed my hand holding an item and composited that in. White light around it shows the SF element.
To portray time travel I added a 1920s street, juxtaposed against the present day.
Colour was done by layers of digital painting over black and white images, to marry a range of image sources effectively. I used Krita's textured brushes and blends.
I designed new typography and layout in Inkscape to fit better into the thriller market.")
About
Specialist in design for print and screen, experience with book jackets, apparel, social media, branding and more.
My book covers are designed to be eye-catching and commercial. With over a decade of experience as a books buyer for large U.K. chains (including Waterstones and Tesco), I use my knowledge of buyers' tastes and market trends to deliver strong covers that will sell your book.
Member since:
February 10, 2017
Reviews
"The project was to redesign a book cover; xavierbacon was incredibly easy to work with -- again -- and combines a wonderfully creative eye for composition with an openness to feedback and criticism. I hope that I can work with him for all of my cover ar..."
keithtittlewriter14
reviewed almost 7 years ago
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"This was my first experience with a process like this, and I was very pleased by the results. I could have been more clear in my original project overview, which led to some of the designers going down the wrong path, but I was able to communicate easil..."
keithtittlewriter14
reviewed about 7 years ago
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"Xavierbacon was great to work with. He was friendly and professional. He was willing to work with me and create multiple iterations of his original design until I was satisfied with the final product. I would definitely work with him again on future pro..."
tdonahue630
reviewed about 7 years ago
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