Project Brief

Design a book jacket for a
book of your choice, with
the following criteria:

Custom lettering for the
front cover and spine

Typographical pattern for
the inside of the jacket,
may be obvious or abstract.

In a time of misinformation and political partisanship gone awry, Americans of all ages need an outside voice to help us see our society with clear eyes—a voice outside of our country, outside of our current context.

Alexis de Tocqueville’s seminal work, Democracy in America, can provide that voice.

Lauded by historians as one of the best books ever written about American society, DIA speaks with both praise and intense criticism, pulling no punches when describing the triumphs and pitfalls of American democratic society.

The Result

A book cover that
emphasizes the outside perspective of the author, merges contemporary and mid-19th century visual styles, and celebrates the cross-cultural conversation about democracy.

A soft,
patriotic palette

Patriotic red, white, and blue (the colors of both the U.S. and France) softened by a pale pink.

These vibrant, overlapping colors pop against a black background.

Emphasis on
cultural exchange, and external insight

Decorative elements include the fleur-de-lis, the star, and the original, French title of the book.

The fleur-de-lis, whose three petals signify the French commoners, nobility, and clergy, represents the aristocratic system from which Tocqueville emerged.

The star, which on the American flag signifies the “new constellation” of states under a democratic government, represents the object of Tocqueville’s analysis—American democracy.

The title De la démocratie en Amérique serves as a reminder that the book was not written for us, but about us. The value of the book for Americans lies in Tocqueville’s balanced and critical outsider view.

Custom letters
and Manicules

Simple, custom sans-serif letterforms decorated with a simple border, inspired by the boldness of mid-19th century typefaces.

Hand-and-quill manicules evoke mid-19th century type foundries, and signify the book’s core nature—a series of Tocqueville’s personal observations on American democractic society.