Tumbleweeds - Stories That Stick
Book Design - Cover and Book Block
After years of weaving enchanting tales and stories from his life on his blog, Austinite Bill Hyche decided it was time to bring his stories to life in a paperback book. I joined forces with Bill as his designer, breathing life into the cover and meticulously laying out the entire book block. This project marked a significant milestone for me, as this was the first book I created from cover to cover for a client.
Tumbleweeds is proudly showcased and available on Bill Hyche's website, https://billhyche.com/.
Book Cover Sketches
Bill asked that his cover align with the title, Tumbleweeds. Shortly after our meeting, I brought out the pencil and paper and sketched rough ideas. The sketches range from a play on typography to incorporating photographs to illustration.
Book Cover Initial Proofs
I designed three initial front cover proofs based on the information Bill provided in his Client Brief. I took a stock image on the far left and removed buildings and power lines using Photoshop. The vintage, stained Polaroid aligns well with the types of stories Bill tells throughout his book. The other two covers play on typography and illustration. Each has a slightly Western feel that invites the reader to pick up the book and sit a spell.
The Final Cover
Bill immediately latched on to the Polaroid picture, and after a few rounds of edits, including a more readable typeface and vertically aligning the picture, the cover was ready. One TouchPoint printed the book, and it is currently available for sale on Bill’s website.
The Internal Pages
The internal pages exhibit identical layouts. The main story captures the reader’s attention as a right-hand read. Three supporting quotes accompany the story on the left page. To breathe life into the text, the chosen typeface, Adobe Jenson, takes center stage. With its wedge-shaped serifs, it becomes more than just letters on a page; it is an artistic brushstroke that weaves a vintage aesthetic into the fabric of the book.
