Design Process

The process of designing a book begins with listening and learning. When editor Erin Glenn and I met with author Carol Garboden Murray to discuss her manuscript, Carol conveyed her passion for the art of caregiving with children, and shared her seven main tenets or “lamps” to “shine a light by which we can examine care and reimagine our care practice.” She stated, “Care is education…care is a right…care is a partnership…care is bodily…care is an art…care is a science…care is what makes us human." Reading her book and meeting with her in person, I got the sense of her patience and attention to the craft of caregiving and wanted to translate that into the visual experience of the book.

When working on the cover concept, I attempted to convey the ideas and qualities that are integral to both Carol and the book: illumination, sophistication, craftsmanship, and children as competent partners in care. Here are a few of the initial concepts:  ​​​