Designing a Book Cover for "City of Stolen Magic"

Apr 18

In this blog post I share my process of designing a book cover for the Penguin Book Cover Design Award (2024) for a fictional children's book titled "City of Stolen Magic,". The story starts in 1855 India and follows a young, magically gifted character on an adventurous quest to England to save her mother.

This project is popular with Illustration and design students as it not only strengthens your portfolio but also sharpens your skills in adhering to a specific brief.

Understanding the Brief

"City of Stolen Magic" intrigued me with its rich historical setting and the magical elements woven into its narrative.

‘We would like you to design an exciting cover look for this fabulous story filled with multiple layers of detail and drama and incredible characters..’ 2024 Brief

This project required a deep understanding of the story's core to envision a cover that encapsulates its essence. So I downloaded and read the story!

The Story

As I read the story I noted pivotal plot points, character development, and the multilayered narrative structure. Understanding the protagonist's journey, their magical abilities, and the cultural backdrop of 1855 India moving towards England was my main aim. This immersion allowed me to visualise the thematic elements that would be central to the cover design.

AI for Conceptualisation

To expedite the ideation phase, I used Bings AI image generation tool. This allowed me to generate character concepts quickly and source reference images that matched the story's setting and mood. This step was invaluable in saving time and provided a broad spectrum of visual inspiration.

Crafting a Collage Layout Template

Using the AI-generated images and some googled reference images, I created a collage that served as a layout template for the book cover. This collage helped in spatially organising the key elements and offered a preliminary glimpse into how the final design might look.

Sketching and Inking

With a layout in place, I began sketching the main elements of the cover, focusing on the young protagonist, and capturing the environments from the story. This step was where my personal style began to shine through. After sketching, I moved on to inking, refining the drawing line work that brought clarity and definition to the composition.

Creating the Illustrated Cover

I used InDesign to layout the book details required in the brief, along with my edited and coloured illustrations to create the illustrated book cover. I chose colours that resonated with the themes of the story and matched the ethos of the original book cover design. This phase was both challenging and rewarding, as it required balancing intricacy with clarity to ensure the cover was engaging at first sight.

Five-Day Challenge

Setting a deadline of five days for myself, from conceptualisation to the final design, instilled a sense of discipline and focus in the project. This tight schedule pushed me to make decisive design choices and work efficiently. It also pushed me past perfectionistic procrastination and forced me to stop even though I could see room for improvement.

Conclusion

Designing the book cover for "City of Stolen Magic" was a fantastic journey that honed my skills in storytelling through design. It underscored the importance of understanding a story’s essence, leveraging technology for creativity, and the value of a disciplined workflow. For anyone embarking on a similar project, remember to immerse yourself in the narrative and embrace the process. Happy designing!