Crafting a Visual Journey for Sylvie’s Silence
The story of Sylvie—a young girl searching for her voice, identity, and strength amidst the mystery of her past—called for a design that balanced the themes of loss, hope, and courage. From the outset, my goal was to create a cover and interior that honored the story’s poignancy while connecting with its middle-grade audience.
Reflections
I know I say this a lot, but designing Sylvie’s Silence was a journey of collaboration and creativity.
The cover design began with author Katharine Johnson’s vision of a shadowy image of a young girl. However, the conventions of middle-grade fiction called for a more colorful and approachable aesthetic. To reconcile these ideas, I opted for a bold, stylized illustration that portrayed Sylvie with fair hair, blue eyes, and the scar central to her story. This scar became a defining visual element, subtly mirrored as a red slash across the cover and echoed with stitch-like details on the back. To add warmth and accessibility, I paired the imagery with the “La Chic” typeface, customizing the letterforms to convey elegance and a touch of whimsy—a nod to Sylvie’s journey toward self-discovery.
Inside the book, the design reflects the story’s diary-like structure. Clean, spacious typography ensures readability for younger audiences while aligning with the narrative’s reflective tone. Each chapter is dated, emphasizing the passage of time and the gradual uncovering of Sylvie’s past. The interior style harmonizes with the cover, reinforcing a cohesive visual language that guides the reader seamlessly from cover to content.
The process wasn’t without challenges. Finding the right balance between mystery and accessibility required careful iteration, particularly as Katharine and I refined elements like the scar, the background textures, and even Sylvie’s expression. Additionally, the limitations of print-on-demand technology affected the subtle textures I had envisioned for the cover, but these adjustments ultimately enhanced the book’s atmospheric quality.
Working on Sylvie’s Silence was not just a design project but an opportunity to engage deeply with a story of resilience and transformation. From the bold cover to the elegant interior, every element was crafted to invite readers into Sylvie’s world, leaving them inspired by her courage and growth. Collaborating with Katharine to bring this book to fruition was a joy, and I’m proud to have contributed to a project that combines thoughtful craftsmanship with a spark of creative whimsy.
