Portfolio
:format(webp)/99designs-contests-attachments/84/84755/attachment_84755857 "- The novel is set in a prison, and the author wanted a stark, oppressive look. I added interest by setting the background imagery 90 degrees to the text, so you have to change your POV to read it. It gives little clues that intrigue the potential reader.")
:format(webp)/99designs-contests-attachments/84/84330/attachment_84330914 "The book features an airplane-based time machine travelling back to 1939, where it's hijacker kills Hitler and changes the future.
I based the style on classic techno thrillers such as Michael Crichton or Tom Clancy.
The red stripes suggest Nazi party flags at the top without showing swastikas, and the ghosted red shapes are rallying soldiers. The stripes unify the design elements and lead the eye down the page.
The plan was from stock art, all other elements drawn by me. There was no final blurb so I added the above based on competition details. I wanted the back cover to be as pacy and punchy as the front, to keep reader's interest so they take the book to the till and buy it.")
:format(webp)/99designs-contests-attachments/84/84473/attachment_84473969 "The brief asked for specific elements to be featured on a chick lit-style cover.
I opted for a commercial women's fiction look, simple illustration and silhouetted main character, with a feminine colour palette.
Everything was assembled in Inkscape. Silhouette, paintbrush and the splashes of paint were from stock images; mountain, sign and design elements drawn by me. Type chosen is typical for the genre.
Overall effect is a strong, commercial look that stands out on screen or bookshelf.")
:format(webp)/99designs-contests-attachments/83/83540/attachment_83540689 "- I made this contest entry deliberately worlds apart from the others, basing elements on the brief (Lovecraftian conjured images of tentacles) and others on simply creating an evocative image.
- There's hopefully a sense of summer (the colours) as well as danger and mystery (tentacles, sea, grasses, how do they all connect?) to convey the tone of the novel.
- I went through so many fonts before settling on this simple, light type. The letters and the lone word title demanded something elegant.")
:format(webp)/99designs-contests-attachments/83/83971/attachment_83971041 "I 3D sculpted a model of what the battlegear of the aliens in the novel might look like.
Once sculpted, I rendered a 2D shot, and colourised in Krita.
Text and textures were added in Inkscape.")
:format(webp)/99designs-contests-attachments/83/83061/attachment_83061491 "- The author wanted to show a spaceship being controlled by someone's mind. The woman has cables and plugs running into her neck. The blue energy running between her and the ship shows this, plus the ship being a different colour to the rest of the squadron emphasises its uniqueness.
- I made the spaceships from model kit bits and paint canisters. I photographed them and edited the shots in Krita.
- The space background is a composite of several free stock images.
- I made extensive use of Krita digital painting to composite imagery, and to create the nebula/clouds and laser effects.")
:format(webp)/99designs-contests-attachments/81/81309/attachment_81309767 "- Illustrative cover showing the protagonist and two main villains
- I layered my vector illustration over a photo of pebbles from my local beach to add texture. I used Krita to add subtle embellishments and further background texture.")
:format(webp)/99designs-contests-attachments/84/84791/attachment_84791704 "The author wanted something simple, stylistic and claustrophobic. A 'tunnel' of simple graphic elements, setting the title smaller than the author name, running the author name off the page, and canting the whole thing to one side achieve that effect.
The paper texture and font were chosen to evoke a handmade feel, again at author's request.")
:format(webp)/99designs-contests-attachments/85/85546/attachment_85546045 "The book covered three pillars that would futureproof your business. The extended infinity sign represents this.")
About
Specialist in design for print and screen, experience with book jackets, apparel, social media, branding and more.
My book covers are designed to be eye-catching and commercial. With over a decade of experience as a books buyer for large U.K. chains (including Waterstones and Tesco), I use my knowledge of buyers' tastes and market trends to deliver strong covers that will sell your book.
Member since:
February 10, 2017
Reviews
"The project was to redesign a book cover; xavierbacon was incredibly easy to work with -- again -- and combines a wonderfully creative eye for composition with an openness to feedback and criticism. I hope that I can work with him for all of my cover ar..."
keithtittlewriter14
reviewed almost 8 years ago
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"This was my first experience with a process like this, and I was very pleased by the results. I could have been more clear in my original project overview, which led to some of the designers going down the wrong path, but I was able to communicate easil..."
keithtittlewriter14
reviewed almost 8 years ago
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"Xavierbacon was great to work with. He was friendly and professional. He was willing to work with me and create multiple iterations of his original design until I was satisfied with the final product. I would definitely work with him again on future pro..."
tdonahue630
reviewed about 8 years ago
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