Book Design
The Guardian x Manchester International Festival
Cover design and editorial artwork for a special Guardian supplement celebrating Manchester International Festival and The Guardian's 200th anniversary.
Project Details
Client: The Guardian
Partner: Manchester International Festival
Service: Editorial Design / Cover Design
Year: 2021
A cover designed to reward curiosity
The concept was built around a simple two-part experience.
At first glance, readers see a vibrant rainbow of colour. On closer inspection, they discover that the rainbow contains a hidden message, creating a moment of surprise and encouraging a deeper engagement with the cover.
The Guardian commissioned the artwork to celebrate both its 200th anniversary and the return of Manchester International Festival following lockdown restrictions. Working closely with The Guardian's design and marketing teams, I developed a concept that balanced celebration, optimism and accessibility while working within the publication's established design framework.
Love is a Catalyst
The brief explored themes of love and human connection, division and togetherness, equality and social change.
In response, I created the phrase Love is a Catalyst as the foundation of the design. The message was intended to capture a sense of optimism, action and collective progress during a period of national recovery.
The visual identity developed for the cover was then carried throughout the publication to create a coherent editorial experience.
See also Wembley Spanish Steps, Wembley Digital Animations, Jack Arts Outdoor and Axis Tower for similar colour schemes.
Love is a Catalyst
The brief explored themes of love and human connection, division and togetherness, equality and social change.
In response, I created the phrase Love is a Catalyst as the foundation of the design. The message was intended to capture a sense of optimism, action and collective progress during a period of national recovery.
The visual identity developed for the cover was then carried throughout the publication to create a coherent editorial experience.
"Love is an action, a four-letter word, a gritty, head-down-and-work kind of word. It's this kind of love which is a catalyst for change. Along the way we can expect good days and bad – but when they come together, we can enjoy a moment of kaleidoscopic wonder and hope."
— Micah Purnell