North designers create Star Wars covers

STAR Wars fans around the world will soon have their hands on the work of an up-and-coming North East design agency.

Gateshead-based Keltie+Cochrane beat big name rivals to win the commission to design the covers of the three latest a the series of novelisations of the world introduced by George Lucas’s hit films more than 30 years ago.

Ian Keltie, a director at Keltie+Cochrane, said: “It feels amazing to be associated with the Star Wars novels, which have a huge international following.

“We submitted some outline proposals to David Stevenson, a senior art director at the publisher Random House. He really liked them and they were presented in person to Lucasfilm at their San Francisco headquarters.”

David Stevenson at Random House said: “With the Star Wars franchise, the book covers are a key component as they set the tone and visualisation for the entire novel. For example, in this novel Luke Skywalker is pushing 60, so he needs to appear older, while also looking tough and virile.

"We liked the approach that Keltie+Cochrane took to our original brief and their work is the perfect fusion of original design with the common themes of the Star Wars genre. Lucasfilm particularly like the way they responded to feedback by going that extra mile to achieve the desired style.”

Ian and his business partner, Jason Cochrane, met while working for BBC Interactive in London. They both returned to work in the North East with the long-term intention of going into business together. Ian specialises in graphic design, while Jason is primarily a web designer.

“We’ve been contracted for the first three books, with the opportunity to do a further six, so this project really will boost our profile,” said Ian. “Our only hope now is that our work will meet the high expectations of the Star Wars faithful and help to ensure the books are a huge sales success.”