Norwich students’ novel idea is a big success

EDP24 - Anna Boyle
Monday, January 31, 2011

The work of two graduates from Norwich University College of the Arts will be featured in bookshops nationwide after their cover concepts for a set of novels by H G Wells, pictured, were commissioned by a national publishing group.

Luke Roberts and Harry Cox originally conceived the designs in their final year of study in NUCA’S BA (Hons) Graphic Design course, which they both graduated from last year.

Luke, who now lives in North London, said: “Knowing our designs had been used for the set of books was absolutely amazing. When we found out we were both jumping around. It felt better than winning an award for our work, we are both really pleased.”

The set of five novels cover some of Wells’s non-science-fiction work, including The history of Mr Polly, Kipps, Tono-Bungay, Ann Veronica and Love & Mr Lewisham. The books have been released under the W&N imprint of publishers Orion.

The designs featured on the hardback covers incorporate the synopsis and the first chapter of each book into a news article, with close attention to detail, from the blurb being written in a newspaper editorial style through to the barcodes on the back.

NUCA senior lecturer in graphic design, Lucy Blazey, said: “The books have strong visual ideas. The image printed on the retro newspaper is a key part of each story and relates to the objects which are seemingly randomly placed on top of the newspaper.”

The work was entered through the college into a national competition last year run by D&AD, an international group for professionals and students, in which it went on to win a yellow pencil award.

Since graduating, both students are now based and working in London.