MinaLima Makes Magic for the Pottermore E-book Designs

There’s a certain look, a particular feel that goes with all of the graphic design pieces used within the Harry Potter movies. It’s 50% bombastic color, 50% Victorian detail-frenzy, and 100% magically brilliant. Every single book flashed on screen, every inch of a poster seen blurred in the background, every passing reference made to the Daily Prophet was graphically accounted for by the brilliant minds of MinaLima. Pottermore sat down recently for a new interview with the gifted artists to celebrate the release of the new e-books, whose covers MinaLima had designed. Those books include Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide, Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists, and Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies.

MinaLima is a design company made up of the dynamic duo Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima. These two base their entire art style around the ideals of stimulating the viewer’s imagination. In their own words,

Our work encourages people to use their imaginations, make their own decisions and enjoy their own taste. In every piece we create, we offer something of ourselves for our customers to take with them through their lives. We are a studio built on humour, inspired by positivity and good common sense.

It’s no wonder that they were selected as the designers to create the graphic props for all of the Harry Potter films and the upcoming Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them film, as well as all three of the new Pottermore Presents e-books.

The inspiration behind each and every book is as varied and remarkable as you would expect from such skilled designers. They dove into the mindset of a student and tried to think of what these books would look like if they were to be found within the library of Hogwarts itself. Mina commented,

These books are part of that world. We read [the books] and then tried to get their personalities into the covers. We also went back over the backlog of material we had for Harry Potter, too – that’s why they look so perfectly Potter-ish.

The dry, British humor is apparent and distinct when looking at Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide. Lima was quick to note,

I mean, just look at the title: Incomplete and Unreliable…? It’s funny, so we tried to be cheeky with it. I love it!

When speaking of Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists, the designers revealed a bit more of their creative process. While working, they had the starry night sky in mind, as if they were looking out of one of the majestically towering windows of the Great Hall. A textured background can be seen within that night sky upon closer inspection. Lima revealed,

Sometimes we scan in a texture like that from an old book. We have books from the 1800s that we use in that way.

Mina was quick to comment that they tried to restrict their color palette choices to what could have actually been made on that fabric. She continued, comparing the creative process to writing,

We started these [covers] without knowing exactly how they would end up.

While reminiscing about crafting the cover for Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies, Lima shared that he wished that their works were being printed simply because all their work on the textures looks good enough to reach out and feel. The little hidden details that they included could only be described as fun, even by the designers themselves. They commented,

If you look at this one, you can see the outline of a cat and the moon with a witch in the sky. This is us having fun with these, because these books are fun.

Also, as a little bonus Easter egg, take a look at the R of “Rowling” on each book. Doesn’t it look a bit like it’s about to jump off the cover and cast some magic all on its own?

It’s clear through their beautiful, quirky artwork that MinaLima believes in the wonder and whimsy of Harry Potter. They bring that love of imagination to every single design that they make, whether it be for the boy wizard or for their own portfolio.

How do you feel about the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them graphic props? The new e-book designs? Share your thoughts in the comments below!