True story.
These cover projects for memoirs, philosophy, collected biography, and other non-fiction works are similar in that they did not have preassigned artwork. The challenge of visually communicating the gist of a reading book on its cover is an exciting one. Typically many designs are created, but ultimately only one will go to press, leaving a trail of interesting directions and ideas behind.
Process for a trade philosophy book from an academic press. This cover needed to look smart yet approachable. The art director came to me with the notion of an apple so I started there, but also explored spiritual imagery (buddha), and all-type solutions that ended up looking too traditional self-help. We finally ended with a simple yet impactful cover that was graphic and abstract rather than photographic.
Process for a memoir cover. The story begins in Maine and follows newlyweds as they relocate to the West coast in search of “home.” I was tasked with conveying their emotional journey. Ultimately the title was changed to Made for Me and You just before the project was wrapped up.