Book cover design for “Edward Illegitimus. Życie w cieniu tabu” by Robert Reinfuss, published by New.H Publishing. The project included the complete cover design: front cover, spine, back cover, illustration, decorative ornaments, typography, publisher logo placement and print-ready file preparation based on the printer’s technical specification.
Project overview
The aim of the project was to create a distinctive cover for a historical-biographical book with a decorative, literary and slightly mysterious character. The book tells the story of Edward Illegitimus, a poet, activist and Kraków-related figure whose life was surrounded by silence, taboo and missing pieces of family and historical memory.
The cover needed to combine several visual layers: biography, Kraków, family history, secrecy, elegance and the atmosphere of an old printed book. I wanted the final design to feel decorative and classic, but still clear and suitable for a contemporary printed edition.
My role
- Full book cover design
- Front cover illustration and composition
- Decorative floral ornament design
- Portrait and background image preparation
- Typography selection
- Back cover layout
- Spine design
- Print-ready file preparation
- Working with the printer’s technical layout
- New.H Publishing logo design
- Final artwork preparation in Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and Krita
- Illustration work using a graphic tablet
Full cover design
The project was created as a complete wraparound book cover, not only as a front cover illustration. I designed the front cover, spine and back cover as one coherent composition, keeping the visual style consistent across all parts of the printed book.
The front cover is based on a decorative frame with floral ornaments, a central portrait and a Kraków background. The spine continues the same dark navy and gold visual language, with the title, subtitle, author name and New.H Publishing logo. The back cover uses a matching ornamental frame and typography layout for the book description, barcode and publishing information.
Visual concept
The visual concept was inspired by historical book covers, Art Nouveau aesthetics, decorative frames, floral ornamentation and old literary editions. The dark navy background creates a serious and elegant base, while gold lines and ornamental details add a classic, refined character.
The floral motifs, curved lines and decorative border were designed to reference the Art Nouveau style and give the cover a more handcrafted, literary and historical atmosphere. Red and cream flowers introduce a personal and symbolic element, balancing the darker tone of the story.
The central portrait was created to give the book a strong biographical focus. The Kraków background connects the character with the city and adds a sense of place and memory. The circular frame around the portrait was used to make the composition feel like an old illustration, medallion or archival portrait.
Other versions of the project
Illustration and decorative details
All decorative elements were prepared as part of the cover design. The floral ornaments, border, frame and layout details were created to give the book a distinctive visual identity and make the cover feel handcrafted and literary.
The illustration work was prepared using Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and Krita on a graphic tablet. I combined digital illustration, image editing and vector-based layout work to create a consistent final design.
Typography
I selected the typefaces and arranged the typography for the title, subtitle, author name, spine and back cover text. The typography was chosen to support the historical and literary tone of the book, while remaining readable in print.
The title was designed to be strong and decorative, with a classic character. The subtitle uses a softer style to create contrast and emphasize the emotional tone of the book. The back cover typography was arranged to stay readable and balanced within the ornamental frame.
Print preparation
The final cover was prepared according to the printer’s technical layout. The project was based on the required cover spread dimensions, including the back cover, spine, front cover, wrap areas and print-safe margins.
The print file was prepared for a hardback edition with a rounded spine. I adjusted the layout to the required full cover format, spine width, board thickness and wrap areas, making sure that important elements remained inside the safe zones and that the composition worked correctly after printing and binding.
Technical setup included:
- Full cover format: 342 × 245 mm
- Book block format: 140 × 205 mm
- Spine width: 22 mm
- Board thickness: 2.5 mm
- Wrap area: 14.5 mm
- Rounded spine
- Complete print layout: back cover, spine and front cover
3D Mockup
New.H Publishing logo
As part of the project, I also designed the New.H Publishing logo used on the book cover. The logo was prepared in different versions, including vertical and horizontal layouts, and was applied to the final cover design.
The logo appears on the spine and supports the publishing identity of the book. Its simple geometric form contrasts with the decorative cover style, giving the publisher’s mark a modern and recognizable character.
Final result
The final result is a complete print-ready book cover combining illustration, typography, decorative design, branding and technical print preparation. The project connects a historical-biographical subject with a rich visual style inspired by old literary editions and ornamental book design.
The cover was created to feel elegant, mysterious and personal, while remaining suitable for professional printing and book production.
Photos of the printed book
Endpaper design
I also designed the endpapers for the book, creating additional decorative pages that visually connect the cover with the interior of the publication. The endpapers were designed as part of the overall book identity, using a warm aged-paper background, botanical compositions, pressed-flower aesthetics and handwritten archival elements.
The visual direction of the endpapers was created to extend the historical, personal and nostalgic atmosphere of the cover. The botanical elements and manuscript-like details suggest memory, family history, archives and fragments of the past — themes that are closely connected with the book’s subject.
The endpaper designs were prepared as full spread layouts, with attention to composition, symmetry, margins and print requirements. I also prepared the files for printing, making sure that the artwork was suitable for production and consistent with the technical requirements of the book.
Front endpaper design
Back endpaper design
Key takeaway
This project combined creative and technical design work: illustration, cover composition, typography, branding and print preparation. The main challenge was to create a visually rich and decorative cover while keeping the structure clear, readable and technically correct for printing.
The project also shows my ability to work from a printer’s technical specification and prepare a complete cover file, not only a front design.
Tools
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Photoshop
- Krita
- Graphic tablet
