Can a book jacket design be so iconic and recognizable that it can have a life beyond the book itself? This was the question addressed at an art + design conference, October 19-20, in Milan, Italy by the Riverhead Art Director Helen Yentus and Riverhead Associate Publisher Jynne Dilling Martin. The Italian cultural foundation Mondadori partnered with Mimaster Illustrations to fly Helen and Jynne to Milan, where they spoke to professional illustrators, designers, editors and publishers about the unique Riverhead approach to design. They described how each jacket is created in a collaborative process with publicity and marketing, so it can be carried through a campaign and used across many platforms. The team asked if the design can become the visual “identity” for the book, even when stripped of its text. Helen (far left) and Jynne (far right) are pictured with the Mondadori and Mimaster Illustration executives. Continue reading →