Designing Book Cover Artwork – PART 1

Designing Book Cover Artwork – PART 1

SIGNPOSTS FOR LIVING Psychology Book Series

The SIGNPOSTS FOR LIVING Book series came to life with the Book Cover Artwork from artist, Zach Lawry. We used the image of this GEM on the front of all 6 of the books in the series and as a collective puzzle piece on the combined spines of the 6 books.

The first and lasting impression of book cover artwork is extremely important to me. With this psychology book series, the book cover needed to be memorable and stand out from the ocean of book covers. It needed to create a lasting image in the mind of the consumer for their easy and immediate recall. The GEM image on the cover art is relatable, striking and reaches out to you. The colors are intentional in their boldness yet complementary contrast.

The Artist I was truly delighted to work with Zach Lawry, an Australian artist who specialises in a combination of screen printed and stencil styling with a strong digital and graphic design influence. He has had solo exhibitions and contributed to many group shows which have seen his work displayed in all major Australian capitals, as well as in Germany and the UK.

The cover artwork labelled ‘GEM’ represents beauty without symmetry or a perfect shape. It is beauty through uniqueness. While in psychology we celebrate our fallibility and our messiness, we are also working to refine and polish our insight and life skills as they relate to the many different parts to us. When life challenges and things don’t go to plan, we are not worn away, we are being polished, our skills are being strengthened and refined. This honing process is represented so aptly by the GEM image; a precious thing that needs to be worked at and polished to show it’s potential, it’s inner beauty.

Colours We intentionally chose the colours of garnet red and light blue as they are a beautiful combination and represent an energetic and fiery element, alongside a calming and cool presence. The two colours balance each other out. On a more literal interpretation, they represent our lungs and our heart, the core to our nervous system in a calm or threatened state, the essence of psychology.