Purpose
The following design was created as part of the project for The Charmed Book Series. The purpose of the project is to create a book jacket that will include a front cover, back cover, front flap, and spine. The book cover design was created for a reboot of the Charmed series entitled The Charmed Ones which is based off the hit TV show and depicts the lives of the children of the Charmed Haliwell/Warren sisters. The target audience is young adults ages 13-30 who enjoy reading sci-fi fantasy novels. The intent of the design is to intrigue and entice young adults to purchase and read this new book series. The intent is also to ensure that the book is easily recognizable for existing older generational fans, and for millennials who are already fans and grew up watching and reading the series. This multi-generational approach further indulges existing fans and helps resonate with newer fans. By incorporating elements of fantasy, lure, and magic, this design effectively attracts the target audience with gradient jewel tones and bold largely scaled text that allows viewers to quickly scan to it on a book shelf full of competing book covers.
Design Rationale
After researching other novels and competitors in the sci-fi fantasy genre, the cool toned mystical colors of blues and purples were chosen as most visual depictions of magic have these cool jewel toned colors. Texture, depth, and intrigue were created by overlaying different elements to portray a more modern, modge podged spellbook scrapbook as though the Charmed kids took inspiration from their ancestors’ old spell books to create their own. The created color palette of saturated deep tones help to create depth and atmosphere. Symbolic iconography was incorporated that depicts fantasy and magic. Incorporating elements like twisted thorny vines on old growth enchanted trees, woods, celestial imagery, tarot cards, and iconic symbols like a glowing potion bottle helps bring in a natural mythical vibe. A typographical hierarchy system was created with a display font that is similar to the show’s logo and paired with a modern serif typeface for better legibility and intrigue. Using different font weights, styles within the font family, and colors, creates an interesting and mythical design that draws the viewers in. It would be difficult for a target audience member not to be drawn to this cover while scanning the book section at their favorite store. It effectively and quickly informs what the book is about before having to read a synopsis. The design communicates that this is a fantasy book full of magic and lure. This project showcases skills in layout and publication design.
