the wondeful wizard of oz

context

This project was developed as part of an editorial design brief to redesign and reformat a classical novel. I chose to reinterpret The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.

The challenge was to create a contemporary design while respecting the narrative and tone of the original text.

concept

The project is built around the idea of illusion through typography. Inspired by the Wizard’s deceptive use of spectacle, the design avoids traditional imagery and instead uses text itself to create visual experiences.

Rather than illustrating the story, the goal was to let typography perform the illusion, reflecting the narrative’s themes of appearance versus reality.

process

• Analyzed the narrative themes, focusing on illusion and deception

• Defined typography as the primary visual language

• Developed a consistent emerald green palette inspired by the Emerald City

• Selected Garamond to establish a refined and timeless tone

• Designed typographic compositions for chapter titles and key elements

• Extended the system to the cover by shaping text into visual forms

key decisions:

• Eliminating traditional illustrations to reinforce the concept

• Using typographic illustrations to mimic the Wizard’s illusions

• Choosing Garamond for clarity and elegance

• Applying a green color system to anchor the visual identity

• Designing the cover using text to form the Wicked Witch’s hat

outcome

A fully redesigned publication where typography functions as both content and image. The book maintains readability while introducing a conceptual layer that reinterprets the story through visual illusion.

reflection

This project taught me how typography can go beyond communication and become a storytelling tool. I learned how to build a strong concept and apply it consistently across an entire system, and how restraint, such as removing images, can strengthen a design rather than limit it.