“So This is Love” — Book Cover Design

An admirer of their incredibly deep dives into the details of Disney attractions, in May 2025, I started collaborating with the Distory Podcast on their series devoted to “The Hollywood Tower Hotel - Twilight Zone Tower of Terror” (where I served for over seven years).
In the process, I got to know fellow Disney Historian and good friend, Kate the Disney Cicerone and her insightful work as an author - artfully divulging many lesser-known stories of Disney history with a dash of profundity.

Getting a behind the scenes look at her process, (and wanting to branch out from my typical Futuristic and Art Deco aesthetics) I offered my services as a graphic designer to assist with creating the cover of her latest book the in “Moments of Magic” series entitled “So This is Love” — a collection of stories from across Disney history chronicling several ways we give and experience love — not just with our romantic partners but with our friends, children and to ourselves.

Description:

This thoughtfully curated collection of meditations explores love through the stories, spaces, and history of Disney culture. Written by historian, author, and digital creator Disney Cicerone, So This Is Love weaves together obscure park history, intimate Imagineer anecdotes, and real Disney love stories to show the many ways love shapes our lives. Nostalgic and deeply human, this book invites readers to see the Disney parks not just as places of magic, but as mirrors of connection, devotion, and hope.

Purchase

The Proceeding slideshow goes through the design progression starting with my initial involvement to just enhance to the photo to the complete cover design.

Kate’s original photography of Cinderella Castle taken from the WEDway Peoplemover.

JLH enhanced photo removing the WEDway & Tinkerbell’s guidewire and shifting the sky from an almost Teal tint to Pinks & Blues more befitting of the tone of the book.

My shortly-lived early concept to texturize the image for the cover design.

Kate’s official branding and template for her “Moments of Magic” Series with her initial concept for a glittering heart to occupy the negative space of the tree line.

My first pass at a particle heart comprised of Kate’s midcentury modern Disney Cicerone stars with a few hidden Mickey’s along the way.
Fun Fact: In order to have have the most iconic version of his silhouette, the Mickey’s are taken directly from the original 1983 Disney Channel logo.

My first pass at the cover design with the intent to better balance the image by filling the negative space with colorful icons.

The was deemed by Kate’s publishing advisors to be far too busy and pulled focus from the Castle. I whole heartedly (pun untended) agreed and decided to take another approach.

My second pass at a particle heart. This time I went with a more ethereal look created entirely in Photoshop with custom created scatter brushes inspired by Kate’s Disney Cicerone logo.

My particle heart in its final placement on the cover. At this stage it was still uncomfortably upstaging the Castle so a few layers of particles were removed to tone it down and for better clarity.

The Final book cover with the last minute tweak of brightening the particles over the banner and Castle areas for greater readablity.

Not wanting my initial (vector-based) concept to go to waste, Ms. Kate used it as background art for the book’s four sections

Finally, I created an “Accent Heart” for the chapter titles that blends together the two techniques, only this time I had to make it much more intentional and simplistic due to its diminutive size and monochromatic appearance.

"So this is Love" Cover Design

“So This is Love” — Book Cover Design