In the Netherlands, it is common practice to have a PhD thesis professionally designed, giving the research a distinctive and personal touch. A well-thought-out cover reflects the essence of the work and enhances its presentation.
This project involved the design of a cohesive visual concept, including the cover and the invitations for the defense of the thesis, the general layout of the pages and and overall aesthetic, to create a personal and professional final publication.
Services
Creation of the concept and all deliverables: coverillustration, layout according to the university's standards, invitationdesign and general layout of the different chapters and pages, defining a template for the client to fill in herself
The concept & clients wishes
Topic of the thesis: "The role of individual and contextual factors in paid employment of workers with a chronic disease"
The client wanted a personal approach with little details realating to her hobbies, interests and personal life without directly showing everyone what she is all about. The details taken into the design are only hints for her and her loved ones to understand and do not disrupt the professional impression of the thesis.
"Ik hou van warme kleuren (rood, roze, oranje, roestkleur) en zachte overgangen (niet te veel harde lijnen). Ik zou het leuk vinden om een klein linkje te maken met reizen en met mijn dochter / ons gezin"
The Cover
After various sketches exploring different approaches to visualise the essence of my clients research we decided on an illustration that shows a woman walking down a path through a wide, friendly landscape. Symbolically speaking its her path of (work)life where she can choose different options / ways.
Sketches for the cover based on the clients' wishes
The final cover (front and back)
