Paint Me Perfect -
Love, Me & the 303 Series: Book 1
For Author Kay Cove
Scope:
Graphic Design, Print, Book Cover Design
Other Projects for Kay Cove:
LM303 Series Books, Logo Design, Web Design: kaycove.com
This project involved designing book covers for five books, a contemporary romance series, titled "Love, Me and the 303," authored by Kay Cove. The series revolves around five girlfriends who grew up together in Denver but went their separate ways. Each book focuses on a different girl's story and can be read independently or in sequence.
Kay approached me feeling disheartened by previous designers who produced covers that felt clichéd and lacked originality. She expressed a desire for covers that would capture the essence and depth of her characters. She viewed her characters as her "babies" and wanted the covers to do them justice. This was my first time ever designing a book cover so I told her we would learn together!
For the first book, "Paint Me Perfect," Kay initially envisioned subtly incorporating models in the background to hint at the steamy romance aspect. Additionally, she wanted a distinctive element to symbolize each book's theme. In this case, a bursting suitcase represented the main character's decision to leave her old life behind. The suitcase was something Kay emphasized that was very important and while the main character gets ready for her new life, all she has is her broken suitcase busting at the seams. I decided to have the suitcase "busting at the seams" with all of the things she was juggling in her life at that time which was her move to LA, her kid's birthday party, if she was going to be flying back and forth. The suitcase is all she has at the moment and means a lot to her even though it's falling apart. The cover also features a personal touch, a tattoo, which is on the back cover. The design prioritized showcasing the romance aspect while subtly incorporating elements relevant to the storyline, such as the main character's profession as a painter.
Despite initial success and positive feedback, Kay's creative team later advised rebranding to align with genre conventions and improve visibility on Amazon. The rebranding involved making the romantic couple more prominent on the cover, with the Denver skyline in the background to maintain series continuity. A subtle graphic with cracks at the bottom symbolized the main character's transition from her old life to new beginnings.
To cater to readers who preferred discreet covers, a secondary design approach focused on featuring the Denver skyline prominently, with pastel color schemes and emphasis on the book titles. This approach ensured cohesion across the series while offering an alternative for readers seeking subtler covers.
Throughout the design process, the goal remained consistent: to create visually captivating covers that reflected the characters' depth and the essence of each book's storyline, while also adhering to genre expectations and providing options for different reader preferences.
Paint Me Perfect -
Love, Me & the 303 Series: Book 1
For Author Kay Cove
Scope:
Graphic Design, Print, Book Cover Design
Other Projects for Kay Cove:
LM303 Series Books, Logo Design, Web Design: kaycove.com
This project involved designing book covers for five books, a contemporary romance series, titled "Love, Me and the 303," authored by Kay Cove. The series revolves around five girlfriends who grew up together in Denver but went their separate ways. Each book focuses on a different girl's story and can be read independently or in sequence.
Kay approached me feeling disheartened by previous designers who produced covers that felt clichéd and lacked originality. She expressed a desire for covers that would capture the essence and depth of her characters. She viewed her characters as her "babies" and wanted the covers to do them justice. This was my first time ever designing a book cover so I told her we would learn together!
For the first book, "Paint Me Perfect," Kay initially envisioned subtly incorporating models in the background to hint at the steamy romance aspect. Additionally, she wanted a distinctive element to symbolize each book's theme. In this case, a bursting suitcase represented the main character's decision to leave her old life behind. The suitcase was something Kay emphasized that was very important and while the main character gets ready for her new life, all she has is her broken suitcase busting at the seams. I decided to have the suitcase "busting at the seams" with all of the things she was juggling in her life at that time which was her move to LA, her kid's birthday party, if she was going to be flying back and forth. The suitcase is all she has at the moment and means a lot to her even though it's falling apart. The cover also features a personal touch, a tattoo, which is on the back cover. The design prioritized showcasing the romance aspect while subtly incorporating elements relevant to the storyline, such as the main character's profession as a painter.
Despite initial success and positive feedback, Kay's creative team later advised rebranding to align with genre conventions and improve visibility on Amazon. The rebranding involved making the romantic couple more prominent on the cover, with the Denver skyline in the background to maintain series continuity. A subtle graphic with cracks at the bottom symbolized the main character's transition from her old life to new beginnings.
To cater to readers who preferred discreet covers, a secondary design approach focused on featuring the Denver skyline prominently, with pastel color schemes and emphasis on the book titles. This approach ensured cohesion across the series while offering an alternative for readers seeking subtler covers.
Throughout the design process, the goal remained consistent: to create visually captivating covers that reflected the characters' depth and the essence of each book's storyline, while also adhering to genre expectations and providing options for different reader preferences.
