When the creative design agency D8 was approached by Penguin Random House to work on the launch campaign for Richard Osman’s latest novel We Solve Murders, it marked the continuation of a successful partnership. D8, based in Glasgow with studios in Europe and Asia, had previously collaborated with Penguin. However, with the TV presenter’s rising global fame as a writer and his previous book breaking records, this project was still one of their most significant to date.
„We have been working with Penguin Random House for a few years, including notable releases from acclaimed authors like Michelle Obama, Yuval Noah Harari, and Dolly Alderton,“ says Adrian Carroll, D8’s creative director. „So when they approached us to partner with them again for Richard Osman’s new book, we jumped at the chance.“
The initial challenge for D8 was to capture the essence of the novel and its characters without actually being able to read the full book.
„With only the first few chapters available at the start of the project, D8 had to carefully tread the line between representing the characters and leaving enough to the audience’s imagination,“ Adrian explains.
„For us, that in itself was part of the brief: to create a world around the characters and deliver a sense of who they were as individuals, without being overly prescriptive.“
Setting the style
D8 worked closely with the team at Penguin Random House, consulting with them at key points in the creative process to ensure their interpretation of the book meshed with the publisher’s vision.
„The team was looking to introduce the characters without depicting them in a way that might restrict or shape the audience’s imagination,“ Adrian explains. „We had character profiles, early chapters, as well as the book cover. It was crucial that our creative align with the style set by the cover.“
All of this helped the team – which included creative director Laura Laville, account director Keren Ibbotson, motion designer Sarah Buchan, and illustrator Linda Tervet – imagine what the wider world of We Solve Murders might look like.
„We identified the distinctive traits of each character and transformed them into illustrated motifs that reflect the warmth and humor of Richard’s writing,“ recalls Adrian. „These included Rosie’s martini glass, Amy’s aviator sunglasses, and Steve’s quiet pint paired with a game of Sudoku.“
Steve’s cat Trouble also features widely, cast as the „tour guide“ in illustrations to showcase the book’s international locations. „Alongside these, we were also developing storyboards for animations and a trailer,“ adds Adrian.