The Story Behind the Cover: Sister Nature

Have you ever wondered about the story behind a cover?

Ahead of the paperback release of Sister Nature, a vibrant and inspiring memoir following Kenyan beekeeper-turned-farmer Jess de Boer's adventure into the explosive world of regenerative agriculture, we sat down with cover designer Kamillah Brandes to uncover the inspiration and creative process behind its beautiful, eye-catching design.

Discover the Q&A below, and don't forget to pre-order your copy of Sister Nature now - coming on the 19th of March!

1. What core themes from Sister Nature were most important for you to convey visually, and how did you translate them into the cover design?

We wanted the cover to convey a sense of lushness, not only nature but the interconnected systems that comprise the natural world. By placing the natural elements around the text, we sought to replicate the interplay at the heart of the natural world. 

2. How did you arrive at the final colour palette, and is there any symbolism behind the soft green, yellow and orange tones?

We wanted the cover to feel lively but not overly bright, in order to convey that this is a realistic book with realistic approaches and solutions to the problems present in our ecosystems and methods of food production. The natural elements do replicate the colors as they would be in the real world, and the blue background compliments rather than overshadows these visual elements.

3. What visual references and sources of inspiration informed the design for this cover?

Working with the author, we wanted to take inspiration from the natural world around her and that is present in the book. Bees, therefore, maintain a presence on the cover, as well as natural flora like the canola flower. The natural world on the cover is present within the book, greeting the reader even before they open its pages.

4. In what ways did sustainability or ecological thinking influence your design choices?

We knew that the methods of sustainability mentioned in the book would have to be brought in some way to the cover. The way we chose was figurative, focusing on the interconnectedness of the natural world itself, but also that the remedy to damage humans have caused in the world is by working with nature, rather than against it.

5. What do you hope a reader feels when they first pick up Sister Nature in a bookshop?

I hope that readers feel intrigued by nature when they pick up the book, but I also hope that they feel lightened and inspired when they read the book. While the world can seem very dark, at its heart Sister Nature is about facing that darkness and not despairing, and understanding the ways that we can work together and with nature in order to move into a wonderful and natural future.

You can pre-order the paperback edition of Sister Nature here and everywhere books are sold!