Project Details
Title: A Christmas Carol of A Sort
Author: Tobias Rohde
My role: Illustration, visual concept, Typography, typeface creation, in cooperation with Tobias Rohde
Status: Published and available on Amazon and Book Stores
Author: Tobias Rohde
My role: Illustration, visual concept, Typography, typeface creation, in cooperation with Tobias Rohde
Status: Published and available on Amazon and Book Stores
Scope of the Project
• Development of a cohesive visual concept for an illustrated book
• Illustration and design of double-page spreads with integrated text
• Conceptual use of meta commentary as a narrative and visual device
• Creation of a visual language that bridges children’s book / graphic novel aesthetics and adult readership with a focus on meaningful imagery
• Establishment of a consistent page grid, combined with intentional variation of elements to enhance a dreamlike atmosphere
• Illustration and design of double-page spreads with integrated text
• Conceptual use of meta commentary as a narrative and visual device
• Creation of a visual language that bridges children’s book / graphic novel aesthetics and adult readership with a focus on meaningful imagery
• Establishment of a consistent page grid, combined with intentional variation of elements to enhance a dreamlike atmosphere
My Roles
Visual Storytelling & Layout Design Setup
Design of a consistent grid, paired with deliberate shifts in placement and appearance of objects and commentary for a fluid reading experience.
Design of a consistent grid, paired with deliberate shifts in placement and appearance of objects and commentary for a fluid reading experience.
Illustration & Style Development
Creation of a soft, nostalgic visual style using a digital watercolor-inspired approach and a predominantly earthy color palette, fitting the emotional tone of the story.
Creation of a soft, nostalgic visual style using a digital watercolor-inspired approach and a predominantly earthy color palette, fitting the emotional tone of the story.
Development of a "font" based on the author’s handwriting
Selection of characteristic letterforms, clean redraw and refinement, then construction of a font with detailed spacing and kerning work, to balance authenticity with clarity and legibility.
Selection of characteristic letterforms, clean redraw and refinement, then construction of a font with detailed spacing and kerning work, to balance authenticity with clarity and legibility.
Conceptual Collaboration
Close creative collaboration with the author on narrative rhythm, visual interpretation, and the use of meta layers.
Close creative collaboration with the author on narrative rhythm, visual interpretation, and the use of meta layers.
About the book
A Christmas Carol of A Sort is an illustrated book project with a strong focus on atmosphere, meta-narrative layers, and the close integration of text and image. The project is aimed at an adolescent to adult audience that reads with a childlike sense of wonder, curiosity, and emotional openness.
The story moves between sweetness, innocence, melancholy, and quiet searching. These qualities are intentionally mirrored in the visual language. Text and illustration are not treated as separate layers, but as interdependent elements that comment on and expand one another. Additional meta elements, such as visual side notes, references to images or text passages, and deliberately ambiguous “mistakes”, function like editorial annotations. They are meant as subtle prompts for reflection rather than explicit explanations.
The project was designed as a long-term collaboration and was finished by November 2025. Double-page spreads were developed gradually in close cooperation with the author, allowing for experimentation while running alongside other client projects.
