PAUL
CATALANO

Tasked by Penguin with developing cover concepts for a literary thriller, I set out to create designs that reflected the novel's sophisticated tone while
capturing its underlying tension and mystery. The brief called
for a cover that was artful, understated, and evocative—appealing to readers of contemporary literary fiction.

After reading the manuscript, I analyzed the story's mood, themes, atmosphere, and key narrative moments, using detailed notes to guide the creative process. This research informed five cover concepts, each offering a visual interpretation while remaining true to the novel's voice. The final designs were presented to the editorial team for consideration during Penguin's cover review meeting. They were very pleased, and after I left the internship, they used my designs as the basis for the eventual cover.