European Folktales Book Series
A series of book jackets that unites cultures and folk traditions across Europe.
My design for this book series explores the history of one of the most common characters in European cultures: dragons. The woodcut-inspired design, the blackletter-inspired typeface, and the woven fabric-textured surface evoke the rich history of these traditional stories while connecting them to a more contemporary visual language. My design aims to connect the past with the present, representing the survival of tradition and culture over the centuries.
Awarded as Winner for Applied Arts Magazine Student Awards 2026 in Editorial Design Cover/Spread - Series Category.
Illustration
Editorial/Packaging
European Folktales is deeply rooted in ancient traditions and myths, and it always teaches a moral lesson to both adults and children. They most often utilize mythological cultures to invoke fear, therefore, a recognizable character makes a great connection to these stories.
The colors of the books connect the readers to the folktales' specific region, representing something from each country, such as the luscious forest of Germany, the warm sun of Spain, and the red tulips of Hungary.
The dragon is the most widespread mythological creature across Europe; however, its appearance differs based on region. It serves as a storyteller that demonstrates the connotation of these myths while also uniting the cultures all across the continent, but also showing each region’s uniqueness in the dragon’s design.
The tradition of storytelling goes back hundreds of thousands of years. It is a glimpse into the past and history, to customs that existed off the pages. The typography and textures mirror the years of the rise of printed literature, paired with simple illustrations to reflect the tradition's humble origin.
In the end, the book jackets successfully connected their readers to the traditions and past of the cultures, while also keeping the design simple enough to appeal to the modern eye. I learned a lot about design across history, and improved my illustration and typography skills. I now have a better understanding of how to navigate book layouts.