Graphic Design: David Pearson is a hero of book jacket design

Date
5 September 2013

I can’t work out whether it’s galling or incredibly exciting to discover that some of your absolute favourite book covers were created by the same man. Perhaps it’s just a bit of both; galling because it demonstrates an ignorance of an industry you thought you knew inside out (and this guy is a big name in the design world) and exciting because now that you’ve worked out who he is, more beautiful book covers must surely follow. And that’s always a good thing.

The man I’m referring to is David Pearson, a London-based book designer who’s produced magnificent jackets for the likes of Penguin, Ridley Scott Associates, White’s Books and Éditions Zulma. He’s either art directed or designed all the books above and below which, as a die-hard fan of Penguin’s Great Ideas series’, means he’s responsible for the lions share of good-looking books on my shelves at home. That Books vs. Cigarettes cover gets me every time.

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David Pearson: Jane Eyre (illustration by Petra Börner)

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David Pearson: The Christmas Books (illustration by Joe McLaren)

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David Pearson: Great Ideas Volume III

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David Pearson: Great Ideas Volume III

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David Pearson: Books vs Cigarettes

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David Pearson: Great Ideas Volume III

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David Pearson: Great Ideas Volume I

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David Pearson: Great Ideas Volume I

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David Pearson: Great Ideas Volume I

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About the Author

James Cartwright

James started out as an intern in 2011 and came back in summer of 2012 to work online and latterly as Print Editor, before leaving in May 2015.

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