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For this project, I was working from an old concept (left) that I wanted to revamp. I knew I wanted to keep the sketchy, organic aesthetic, but I also wanted something cleaner and more contemporary. I was set on keeping the silhouette in the background, since magpies are the inspiration for the title and protagonist. I chose a clean, simple color palette of pale greys, navy blue, and black which echo a magpie's coloring.
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I started with a few thumbnail sketches and jotted down notes to give myself a better idea of the different elements I would need to create. For the framing on the back panel, I wanted something that incorporated the bird theme without being overwhelming, so I drew on the linear aspects of Art Nouveau design, and kept the details minimal.
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![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3dce0c2c92d01b762cd8989b393bce49/0b429089-3f04-4226-93eb-a5fc7311d2b7_rw_1920.jpg?h=1bcea40d1a947eadca1d2bb5261105c3)
From there I drew a magpie in ink, which later translated to a paper cutout. For the central figure of the protagonist, I zoomed out and went with a solid silhouette to give a layered effect to the cover art.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3dce0c2c92d01b762cd8989b393bce49/11fe9d73-2f8b-40f9-b897-ad7c1f99b297_rw_3840.jpg?h=a3b374c49c8f4ae5629d2f224046e234)
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I kept the framing black on the back cover to add visual interest without distracting from the text, and to increase the overall readability. For the spine, I mocked-up the title in a holographic foil that echoes a magpie's characteristic iridescent feathers.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3dce0c2c92d01b762cd8989b393bce49/d3347b12-9d24-4677-8d09-7e80c51bcb52_rw_1920.jpg?h=0c445ca1330a08c8dc507dca31033a1f)
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