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Design Category
Book design, 2000
Design firm
Scholastic, Inc. (New York, New York)
Collection
(2001) 50 Books/50 Covers of 2000
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The design for Wings was something that happened more easily than most. I've worked with Christopher Myers on all of his picture books at Scholastic Press, and each one is very different in tone. For this book, I immediately felt that a clean, classic design using a serif typeface would be the right way to set off and subtly complement his artwork. I wanted to project a quiet dignity with the typography that reflects the quiet dignity of the main character, Icarus Jackson, a boy who can fly and is ostracized for being different. This picture book is for everyone: it works not only for very young children, but for anyone who reads it. The vertical trim size, generous white space around the artwork inside the book and the plain typography all help to create a quiet space for Myers’ artwork to soar.