Lesson Learned: Obscure Resources

This is a collection of plays by the French playwright Molière: Tartuffe or the Imposter, The Middle Class Gentleman, and the Imaginary Invalid. Under the reign of Louis XIV, Molière was popular among the aristocracy for his comedy, but through satire he reflected the societal issues of his time. His characters were like mirrors that helped the audience consider the state of their society.

A beloved mentor told me regularly that “you’re only as good as your obscure resources.” That advice especially came in handy as I researched and conceptualized designs for these covers. My French classes and professors helped me understand the neoclassical context of Molière’s plays. For example, I learned about the roman du roi, Louis XIV’s official royal typeface, and incorporated that as my main typeface. My most obscure resource was a book of 17th century engravings from our library’s Special Collections. In the end, I wanted the design to stay modern but I couldn’t have come up with the final result if I’d skipped all that research.