Very Short Introductions
Book Cover Series
Deliverables
3 book covers
full series design
Client
University project
Oxford university press
date
2024
This project showcases a set of three book covers for a series of non-fiction books around the titles Amphibians, Mammals, and Reptiles.
This project was ran during university by staff from Oxford University Press. They provided a brief and acted as our client for the duration of the project. I produced a set of three book covers including the front, back, spine, and optional inside flaps. The three titles were chosen by me from the set of Very Short Introductions books, a line produced by OUP. The titles that were chosen then worked as their own set for which I designed all three covers in tandem.
Process
Research
Before beginning my design process, my aim was to get a grasp of what books of this genre should convey. Typically the VSI series by OUP uses an abstract coloured background for their covers but since I developed a more refined series, I decided on a more exciting concept. Looking through the list of titles my aim was to find three with a consistent theme so that they would be coherent as a set.
Development
After exploring a number of concepts for these covers, the design direction I ultimately followed involved an x-ray like image. The idea was to show the body of an animal relating to the title, so a mammal, amphibian, or reptile for each cover. With a deeper dive into what makes up that animal. So when the book's content discusses what makes the class of animal, the book's cover then displays it.
Outcome
Individual Covers
Each cover takes on a different animal to represent its given title. The Mammal featured is a tiger, an exciting animal typically depicted with orange and black colours, but here uses green, creating an interesting visual. The chameleon shown in the Reptiles cover creates a dynamic composition through the curling of its tail. A similar effect happens with the Amphibians cover, with a salamander not only spanning the front and back covers but also creeping into the flaps.
As A Series
The designs work well as a series since they follow the same design rules. The typography is carefully considered and consistent. The colour schemes handle changes in tone in the same way and allow each cover to stand out individually. The strength of the colour contrast between the background, animal shape, and skeleton linework is consistent across all three publications.
Southport
Merseyside
United Kingdom
2026
Instagram: @jackswaindesign