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The Force is with Keltie+Cochrane

A Newcastle-based design agency is working with Star Wars creators Lucasfilms as it illustrates three covers of a new series of novels in the popular franchise.

Keltie+Cochrane picked up the project following a pitch against two other design agencies, including a New York poster design company.

The opportunity arose after a US-based agent showed Keltie+Cochrane’s work to publishers Random House.

Ian Keltie, director at Keltie+Cochrane, said: “It feels amazing to be associated with the Star Wars novels, which have a huge international following. We submitted some outline proposals to David Stevenson, a senior art director at Random House. He really liked them and they were presented in person to Lucasfilm at their San Francisco headquarters.”

David Stevenson said: “With the Star Wars franchise, the book covers are a key component as they set the tone and visualisation for the entire novel. For example, in this novel Luke Skywalker is pushing 60, so he needs to appear older, while also looking tough and virile.

“We liked the approach that Keltie+Cochrane took to our original brief and their work is the perfect fusion of original design with the common themes of the Star Wars genre. Lucasfilm particularly like the way they responded to feedback by going that extra mile to achieve the desired style.”

Ian Keltie said: “We’ve been contracted for the first three books, with the opportunity to do a further six, so this project really will boost our profile. Our only hope now is that our work will meet the high expectations of the Star Wars faithful and help to ensure the books are a huge sales success.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .