Operation Rapier
Summary
Operation RAPIER: Crossover Series is a fast-paced espionage thriller written by former FBI Special Agent Stanley J. Borgia. The plot follows a hybrid CIA/FBI operative uncovering deep-state traitors at the highest levels of the U.S. government. The goal of this project was to design a striking paperback and hardcover wrap that immediately communicates the genre's tension, catches the eye on digital storefronts like Amazon, and functions flawlessly across flat print layouts.
Solutions
The design is a bold, stark, and modern while utiulizing a high-visibility, three-color palette (crimson red, deep black, and crisp white), the layout divides the cover space to establish an immediate sense of tension mirroring the secretive nature of the cia.
The front cover uses sharp, graphic silhouettes of operatives dynamically positioned to command attention even at small thumbnail sizes online. I integrated small thematic details into the typography, utilizing a crossed rapier motif within the title itself to tie the layout directly to the book's codename. On the back and spine, the clean grid structure balances dense synopsis text, author biography layouts, and vector illustrations, resulting in a cohesive, shelf-ready package that bridges classic thriller nostalgia with a contemporary look.
Deliverables
I provided Stanley with a full Print Jacket Wrap, A complete print-ready PDF layout including exact spine calculations, front cover, back cover, barcoding blocks, and safety bleeds. Alongside an optimized RGB front-cover graphics tailored specifically for digital platforms.
My Role
I handled the complete print-ready jacket design which also included a digital version. This included conceptualizing the front and back cover art, managing layout geometry (calculating spine width, margins, and bleed constraints for print), selecting typography, handling vector asset illustration, and prepping files for final publishing distribution.