Tress of the Emerald Sea
A conceptual book-jacket project for Brandon Sanderson's fantasy novel Tress of the Emerald Sea
Project Summary
A book jacket for Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson, created to capture its spirit of wonder and adventure while reflecting the novel's fantasy and nautical themes. Designed to engage readers and convey the tone of Sanderson's storytelling through a cohesive visual language that balances intrigue, imagination, and authenticity.
Research and Discovery
My research began with analyzing the fantasy genre and its core audience to understand prevailing visual trends, color palettes, and typographic styles that resonate with readers of similar works. I then immersed myself in the world of Tress of the Emerald Sea to uncover what gives the story its distinctive charm.
Through close reading and visual exploration, key themes emerged: adventure, resilience, and the balance between whimsy and depth. Narrative details such as the spores, teacups, and vast emerald waters, along with Tress's quiet determination, became symbolic anchors for the design.
This research informed the selection of imagery, composition, and layout choices to create a cover that feels true to the novel's spirit while aligning with contemporary fantasy aesthetics.
Mood Board
Sketches
Creative Challenge
A key creative challenge in designing the jacket was capturing the story's sense of wonder and depth in a simplistic style. Achieving a cohesive, visually compelling design required thoughtful control of typography, composition, and symbolism, while ensuring the cover reflected the novel's distinctive atmosphere and the quiet strength of Sanderson's storytelling.
Working within a restrained two-to-three color palette demanded both restraint and boldness, where each hue, contrast, and spatial relationship carried purpose. Each refinement, adjusting balance, spacing, and type rhythm, helped transform restraint into energy, allowing the cover to feel both composed and alive.
Digital Trials
Final Design
Brand Applications
Project Reflections
Completing the book jacket design for Tress of the Emerald Sea was a rewarding experience that deepened my appreciation for the power of visual storytelling. The style I followed embraced simplicity and bold silhouettes, which allowed the core themes of fantasy and adventure to shine through. By limiting the color palette and focusing on clean imagery, the design effectively sparked curiosity and conveyed the spirit of the story. The process reinforced how simplicity, when intentional, can make a story's essence shine through.