Time Next Trilogy: Crafting a Cohesive Visual Series Across Multiple Publishing Formats
CLIENT
Carolyn Cohagan
DATE
2017-2019
INDUSTRY
Publishing / YA Fiction
SCOPE
Book covers in various formats
Project Overview
Carolyn Cohagan, a local Austin author, reached out when she needed a new designer for the second book in her feminist YA dystopia trilogy. She had switched publishing models and could no longer use the same designer from Book 1. Our challenge: maintain visual consistency with the existing series while pushing the evolving storyline forward visually.
Objectives
Maintain visual continuity with Book 1 while giving Book 2 and 3 distinct identities
Develop a cohesive visual arc across all three covers that mirrors the trilogy’s narrative progression
Design print (front, back and spine), ebook, and audiobook versions for each title
Refresh all three covers for a later box set release with a unified gradient background
Original cover by original designer
Updated and adjusted cover, by me
Design Approach
While Book 1 had already been designed by a previous publisher, I worked to echo its layout, typography, and core symbolism (a single leaf + city silhouette) across Books 2 and 3. I read the manuscripts and drew visual inspiration directly from the narrative:
Book 2 (Time Next): Features an aged leaf and a menacing 50s-inspired suburbia represented by a white picket fence. The background color and floral elements strike a balance between cheery and threatening.
Book 3 (Time’s Up): Pushes the visual arc further with a degraded leaf and a fiery, chaotic backdrop to represent the story’s climax.
When it came time to release a box set, I revisited all three covers and recolored the backgrounds to create a continuous gradient when viewed side-by-side. Each cover still worked individually, but together they told a fuller visual story.
Flat cover views
Tools & Workflow
Design: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign
Collaboration: Direct client communication via email; I was given advance reader copies (ARCs) to better align the visuals with the plot
Results & Impact
All three books released in print, ebook, and audiobook formats with consistent, adaptable covers
Refreshed designs for the box set elevated the trilogy’s shelf appeal and visual storytelling
Why This Project Matters
This series is a great example of how design can evolve within an existing brand structure. I was able to maintain continuity, visually reflect the story’s growth, and make the covers work cohesively across multiple publishing formats. The end result was a trilogy that looked just as powerful as the message it carried.
Testimonial
“I loved working with Amanda. She made creating my book cover fun and painless. I would work with her again in a heartbeat.”
