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The Mavericks Series at a Glance
The Mavericks Series is a five-part science fiction series about five uniquely different women. Each book continues to tell the story of the Mavericks, a team of metahumans who work as superheroes, but who are still constantly faced with the fact that behind all of their impossible feats, they are still very much human. The series target audience is people aged 13–25. There is a running dialogue through all of the books that covers serious topics about mental health struggles, human experimentation, relationships, abuse, and themes of LGBTQIA+ topics. All of these more serious topics are wrapped within a fantastical world full of larger than life achievements, death-defying fights, and so much more.
Deliverables
- Five book jackets
- Five hard book covers
- Beginning internal pages:
- Copyright, series opener, dedication, the first page of chapter one
- Three posters to be used for advertisement
- A slipcase to house all of the books
- A ‘merchandising’ element
- Five digital ads
Logo, Typographic, and Color Palette
The 'M' Logo and the Large Color Palette
The 'M' logo on the spines of each book is representative of the team that the series follows. The team in these books is named the Mavericks (i.e. the Mavericks Series), and their insignia is a 'M'. So pulling from the text, a dynamic but simple logo was created to further tie together all of the branding and distinguish the books from other series or science-fiction novels.
Slipcase
Inside of Case
Back and Right of Case
Arlington
Full Book Jacket
Hard Cover
Faith
Full Book Jacket
Hard Cover
Aegis
Full Book Jacket
Hardback Cover
Influx
Full Book Jacket
Hardback Cover
Winters
Full Book Jacket
Hardback Cover
Five Unique Covers that Exist in a System
Tasked with designing five different covers where each book follows a new person, picking up the storyline, presented its own challenge. For these covers, the focus was on the eyes of different people, as cheesy as it is, eyes are the window to the soul and also a great way to express unique characteristics. If a differentiator in the color palette, different name, and new special effects wasn't a large enough change too denote a new voice, the different face is a strong visual clue.
A Clear Labeling System
The conversation around user experience generally is always in connection with UX/UI design, but this is also an important conversation for print pieces. Any avid reader can share the frustration of when you pick up a book and find out later on that it isn't the first one in the series. All five books are clearly marked with a volume number as well as the logo developed for the series so that every reader can not even have to open the book to know if it is a part of a series and also know what series the book belongs to.
Connecting With the Audience
A Personal Item to Connect with the Audience
In the back of each book mockup is an acrylic cut keychain. Each object is representative of the character, i.e. the high heel for Winters because the character is always in heels. From a writer's perspective, knowing that a story has touched someone is such a fulfilling thing, and giving the audience something that they can carry around with them creates a continuous connection with the audience.
From a marketing standpoint, it's important that the storylines and characters are easily marketable and that things can be extended into merchandising. These keychains are one easy step towards making the Mavericks Series merchandisable.
Poster Advertisements
Digital Ads
Having a digital presence is vital in a modern publishing world, a few different digital ads were developed to see how one of the book covers could exist within different environments. Also, the book covers were animated in two unique ways to showcase the multidimensionality of them and to further add to the magical appearance.
Instagram Ad #1 - Flat Image
Instagram Ad #1 - Video
Instagram Ad #2 - Flat Image
Instagram Ad #2 - Video
Who is C.C. Daleo?
C-Courtney, C-Caroyln, Daleo (my great-grandfathers last name before he came through Ellis Island).
The Mavericks Series isn't currently published, although four of the five books have been written with the last book currently in process.
