The Challenge

The brief was to create a cover that would appeal to a younger audience by presenting history as entertaining, accessible and full of personality, rather than traditional or academic.

The Solution

I combined expressive typography with playful black-and-white illustrations and a hand-painted ribbon motif to create movement and energy across the cover. The layered composition reflects the eclectic cast of historical figures while giving the book a distinctive contemporary voice.

The Result

The finished cover feels bold, fresh and instantly approachable. By reimagining the visual language of history books, it stands out in the category and clearly communicates that these are extraordinary stories told from an unexpected perspective.