The Challenge

The brief was to create a cover for Bad Dust that would communicate the serious historical and social impact of asbestos while appealing to an older-skewing readership interested in British social history and activism. The design needed to feel authoritative but still have a strong contemporary visual impact

The Solution

I created a bold, image-led cover built around the title “BAD DUST”. The typography is intentionally clean, oversized and highly legible, allowing the title to become the central visual statement. Rather than distorting the letterforms themselves, the asbestos fibres interact with and surround the typography, creating a sense of contamination and unease.

The contrast between the vivid blue background and the pale, tactile asbestos fibres makes the material immediately recognisable, while the stark white title provides a strong visual hierarchy. The scattered fibres also create a natural frame around “BAD DUST”, reinforcing the relationship between the title and the subject matter.

The Result

The final cover gives Bad Dust a strong, distinctive and immediately recognisable identity. The clean typography contrasts with the chaotic, organic texture of the asbestos, creating tension between order and disorder.

The decision to keep “BAD DUST” bold and undistorted makes the title particularly impactful, while the fibres physically surrounding and partially interacting with it provide the conceptual element. The result is a cover that communicates the book's subject quickly and effectively, combining strong typography, tactile imagery and a striking colour palette.