Project Overview
A comprehensive redesign of Mary Pope Osborne's "Mermaid Tales from Around the World," originally published by Scholastic. While initially marketed as a children's book, these folkloric tales from diverse cultures contain darker themes and sophisticated narratives that appeal to older audiences. The stories explore complex topics like love, betrayal, sacrifice, and cultural conflict, content that deserves a more mature design treatment to match their folkloric depth and cultural significance.
Design Challenge
The original 8×11" format, while spacious, presented several typographic and layout challenges:
Poor text hierarchy: Large blocks of text without adequate paragraph breaks created visual fatigue
Problematic justification: Center-justified text created uneven word spacing and noticeable rivers throughout the body copy
Insufficient leading: Tight line spacing compromised readability despite the larger type size
Cover legibility issues: Gold script lettering with drop shadows rendered nearly illegible against the dark background
Design Solution
Typography & Layout
Improved text flow: Redesigned paragraph structure with proper breaks and visual breathing room
Enhanced readability: Adjusted leading and character spacing to create comfortable reading rhythm for young audiences
Better alignment: Transitioned from problematic center justification to left-aligned text for consistent word spacing
Refined typeface selection: Maintained serif tradition while improving legibility for children
Format & Structure
Optimized dimensions: Reduced format from 8×11" to 7×10" for better handling while preserving illustration showcase space
Preserved visual elements: Retained the original's beautiful illustrations and decorative story dividers
Improved cover design: Redesigned title treatment for maximum legibility while maintaining the magical, oceanic aesthetic
Project Impact
This redesign demonstrates how thoughtful typography and layout decisions can dramatically improve the reading experience while honouring the sophisticated nature of these cultural tales. The project showcases skills in:
● Literary fiction and folklore design principles
● Typography for immersive storytelling
● Layout optimization for illustrated narrative content
● Cover design and genre-appropriate branding
● Format considerations for crossover/adult audiences
● Typography for immersive storytelling
● Layout optimization for illustrated narrative content
● Cover design and genre-appropriate branding
● Format considerations for crossover/adult audiences
