The making of the cover for How to Be Brilliant at Public Speaking by Sarah Lloyd-Hughes

The illustrator makes sketches.

Art director: Cats only.

Client: I approve. You may start drawing.

Drawing the illustration.

The client thinks that a dirty industrial backstreet is not a good setting and asks to put cats back to the background. An orator is supposed to look sharp, confident and elegant, while the mouse here looks hideous. His teeth are especially disgusting.

Changing the background, fixing the teeth, bringing the audience back.

Sending the picture to the typesetter.

The typesetter has questions regarding the illustration: what’s wrong with the cat’s paw and eyes? The cats’ outlines on the background remind of Monsters, Inc. The illustrator makes small corrections.

Cats on the background seem excessive. Removing them altogether.