After the workshop I took last year, Feltrinelli Editore selected and used this illustration for the actual book cover of the Italian edition of  "Animal Farm" by George Orwell.

When I was a teenager I used to take the train from my small town to go to Rome and spend the afternoon in one of the largest bookstores in the city, today entering that same bookstore and finding a book with my illustration on the cover is an incredible feeling.

Behind the cover

Every year I do my best to take on some personal projects or attend a workshop.  Something that allows me to have fun while learning something new. 

In 2021 spring, I took part in a 5-days workshop organized by MiMaster Milano, where I designed some fictitious covers for the Italian publishing house La Feltrinelli, under the art direction of Cristiano Guerri (AD at La Feltrinelli) and the support of Davide Abbati.  I always wanted to design a cover for Feltrinelli, one of the most important publishers in Italy, but I never found a way to contact the art director.

When I found out that he was going to give a workshop, I made sure to take a week off from my daily freelance projects only to participate and have a chance to show my capabilities.

Long story short, I ended up designing 5 covers in a week in which I didn't get much sleep but it was one of the most satisfying and challenging weeks of 2021, and after a few months the art director contacted me to use one of those 5 covers for the actual publication of the book "Animal Farm".

This is a tip I want to give to everyone, even if you are a professional and have many years of expertise you should always find new ways to challenge yourself and learn new things, as even taking part in a workshop can lead to unexpected and pleasant results.