“Designing a book cover is about creating a compelling visual narrative that serves as a gateway to the story within, inviting readers to embark on a literary journey.”
Nina Mašina: The Art of Visual Storytelling
Nina Mašina, a celebrated graphic designer and illustrator, has spent over two decades creating compelling visuals that bridge cultures and time periods. Hailing from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nina’s work captures the essence of multicultural experiences, infusing them into book covers, illustrations, and other visual forms. Her creations, known for their playful typography and universal appeal, span a diverse range, from Nobel laureates’ literary works to contemporary children’s books. A career highlight includes designing the Bosnian editions of the “Harry Potter” series for Buybook, a task that allowed her to transform J.K. Rowling’s magical world into visual art, adding her unique touch to one of the most beloved stories of our time.
Nina’s creative process blends the traditional and the modern. She often begins with hand-drawn illustrations, using ink, markers, colored pencils, and watercolors, before adapting these designs with digital tools. This approach offers her the flexibility to marry the tactile and meditative nature of classical techniques with the efficiency of modern technology. For Nina, this balance is key to staying true to the art form while meeting contemporary needs. Her illustrations are not merely decorative but serve as an emotional gateway, carefully crafted to reflect the underlying themes and emotions of the stories they represent.
Exploring themes of identity, memory, and transformation, Nina’s work frequently draws on her multicultural heritage. She finds resonance in Persian miniatures and illuminated manuscripts, which, along with other global art traditions, inspire her designs. Her ability to “read between the lines” allows her to create visuals that capture the essence of a book’s narrative, evoking a sense of curiosity and connection in viewers. This practice of translating literature into art has become a signature of her artistic journey, emphasizing the importance of visual storytelling in a world where imagery often speaks louder than words.
Nina Mašina: Merging Traditions and Modernity
Nina Mašina’s creative evolution is deeply rooted in her multicultural background and her dedication to preserving traditional art techniques while exploring contemporary innovations. Sarajevo, the city of her birth, plays a significant role in shaping her artistic vision. Growing up amidst the rich cultural diversity of the Balkans, Nina developed a unique perspective on art that blends the old with the new. Her use of bold colors and textures, alongside her attention to intricate patterns, reflects this fusion. Sarajevo itself often serves as a muse, providing inspiration through its urban landscape, history, and the emotions it evokes in its residents.
For Nina, creating book covers is an intricate process that begins with deep immersion in the text. She carefully reads the books she works on, searching for the central emotions and themes that will shape her design. Her design philosophy goes beyond mere decoration; she aims to create a visual narrative that reflects the book’s core message and mood. Preliminary sketches, experiments with compositions, and the exploration of different typographic elements all play a part in her methodical yet intuitive approach. Through this process, Nina turns words into images, making each book cover a visual journey that draws readers in, even those who may already be familiar with the book’s content.
Her passion for traditional techniques, such as Persian miniatures, African art, and illuminated manuscripts, further distinguishes her work. These influences guide her artistic approach, infusing her designs with a sense of historical continuity while pushing the boundaries of modern graphic design. For Nina, the beauty of traditional art lies not in its nostalgia but in its ability to resonate with contemporary audiences. Her work is a testament to the enduring relevance of ancient crafts, proving that they still hold power in an age dominated by digital media.
An Artistic Dialogue: Between the Lines
At the heart of Nina Mašina’s artistic practice is a desire to create art that transcends visual aesthetics, fostering connection and empathy among viewers. This sense of purpose is most evident in her book covers, where she often spends hours “reading between the lines” to understand the emotional undertones of a story. By doing so, she creates illustrations that not only capture the book’s essence but also provoke emotional responses from potential readers. Each cover becomes a conversation between the text and the viewer, drawing them into the story before they’ve even opened the book. Her approach to typography plays a crucial role in this process, as she carefully selects fonts that complement her illustrations, ensuring a harmonious visual narrative.
Her work is heavily influenced by various artistic movements, from the avant-garde experimentalism of Dadaism and Surrealism to the structured simplicity of Bauhaus. Among her biggest influences is the renowned artist Paul Klee, whose abstract and emotional use of watercolor deeply resonates with Nina’s own creative process. Klee’s ability to merge form and emotion mirrors her approach to visual storytelling, where colors and patterns serve as more than mere design elements; they are integral to conveying the emotional depth of the narrative.
Nina’s work is also shaped by a reverence for detail and craftsmanship. Her love for ancient manuscripts, particularly illuminated texts like the Sarajevo Haggadah, speaks to her appreciation for history and the tactile beauty of books. The Haggadah, created in medieval Spain, continues to inspire Nina with its intricate designs and the meditative process behind such detailed work. In a time when artificial intelligence is becoming more common in creative fields, Nina remains committed to the hands-on process of creating art, viewing it as both a personal and artistic necessity.
Nina Mašina: Crafting with Purpose and Passion
Nina Mašina’s dedication to her craft extends beyond her technical skills. Her creative journey is driven by a desire to push the boundaries of visual design, continually experimenting with new techniques while maintaining a strong connection to her artistic roots. One of her most cherished personal projects is the illustration of children’s books—works that shaped her own childhood. By reimagining these timeless stories through her distinct artistic lens, Nina hopes to evoke a sense of wonder and nostalgia, while also introducing them to a new generation of readers.
Her workspace is a sanctuary for quiet contemplation, a space where she can freely explore her ideas without distractions. Nina values solitude during the creative process, allowing her to focus deeply on the projects at hand. Despite this need for isolation, her inspirations are drawn from a wide variety of sources—conversations with people, the beauty of nature, music, and exhibitions—all of which contribute to the richness of her art. Her goal is to translate these inspirations into visuals that connect with audiences on a deeper, emotional level.
As her work continues to evolve, Nina remains committed to expanding her horizons. She constantly explores new media, from watercolor and collage to digital animation, seamlessly integrating different techniques to bring her visions to life. This fusion of old and new reflects her artistic philosophy: that the most powerful creations come from blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary innovation. Through her art, Nina Mašina invites viewers to immerse themselves in the layers of color, texture, and meaning that define her work, finding personal significance in the stories she tells.
