Designing the Journey
From our first meeting, Jo’s insights and vision inspired my every step of the project. She wanted the book to convey optimism and growth while maintaining a sense of simplicity and clarity—qualities that would resonate with her primary audience: women navigating the challenges of widowhood.
Reflections
Cover Design
The journey to the final cover was both creative and iterative, reflecting Jo’s unique preferences and the themes of her book. We explored a wide range of concepts, from bold typographic designs to softer, more reflective imagery. Ultimately, Jo chose a design featuring a path-like crack and a blooming flower—powerful symbols of resilience and unexpected beauty. This visual metaphor captured her journey with both grace and optimism. The lowercase font we selected added an approachable, welcoming feel that echoed Jo’s personality and the tone of her writing. By balancing Jo’s aesthetic preferences with practical concerns like readability, we ensured the design would resonate with her audience and draw readers in.
Interior Design
For the interior, I carried the cover’s creative direction through the layout to create a cohesive visual experience. Chapter-opening embellishments, section divider art, and playful yet thoughtful subheader designs added warmth and personality to the text. These details brought Jo’s story to life visually, enhancing the reading experience while ensuring the layout remained clean and professional.
Process and Tools
The design process followed my usual approach, starting with a creative brief and moving through cover concept development, typesetting, and final proofing. To meet the project’s modest budget while maintaining creative flexibility, I used a mix of stock imagery and early-stage AI art, compositing elements together to create a harmonized visual that aligned with my creative intent. This approach allowed for a wide range of design options while staying true to Jo’s vision. I also developed promotional materials, giving Jo the tools to effectively market her book to libraries, including at the ALA conference.
The result of this collaboration is a book that not only tells Jo’s poignant story but also visually reflects her journey with warmth, grace, and resilience. It’s a design that welcomes readers, honors the heart of Jo’s narrative, and supports her goal of reaching those who may find comfort in her words.
