Iacopo Bruno
New covers
In 2018, Germany celebrated 20 years of Harry Potter magic with brand new covers for the seven books, commissionned by publisher Carlsen Verlag. The artist chosen for this prestigious task was none other than Italian illustrator and graphic designer Iacopo Bruno.
The artist was already well-known for his ornate, highly detailed illustrations and his luxurious visual storytelling. Working on the Harry Potter anniversary editions, he brought his signature style to the beloved books, completely reimagining the series.
Each book received its own rich color scheme, matched with swirling embellishments and hidden elements, from cover to spine.
Iacopo Bruno confessed loving getting lost in the richness of details, in the complexity of decorations, in using images to tell more about the characters, and in typographic research. In the center of each cover, a brand new Harry Potter logo sets the tone.
Unlike minimalist approaches that aim to distill a story to its simplest forms, Iacopo Bruno’s method is maximalist in the most refined sense. His work is built from layers—historical references, visual motifs, symbolic flourishes, and intricate letterforms.
Philosopher’s Stone and Deathly Hallows
Of all the seven books, Bruno holds a special affection for the first and the last one. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was the first cover he designed—the one that initiated him into the magical world not just as a reader or viewer, but as a visual interpreter.
After enjoying the stories as a reader, and as a viewer with the movie adaptations, he could finally work on his own version of the covers, starting with the first book in the series.
The other favorite is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. For Bruno, the final installment offered a chance to reflect the saga’s full weight—the darkness, the transformation, the resolution—and wrap the journey in an elegant visual closure.
Through these two covers, he bookended the series with reverence and emotion, capturing both the childlike wonder of the beginning and the mature finality of the end.
A Library of Influence
Bruno’s influences stretch far beyond Hogwarts. Based in Milan, Italy—a city steeped in visual history—he draws inspiration from Italian artistry, medieval manuscripts, and antique prints. But his eye is just as often turned toward Anglo-Saxon imagery, a cross-cultural curiosity that fuels his stylistic versatility.
“My research always draws from a universe of objects and images from past ages and countries,” he says. “Books that fill my library, objects I collect, and certainly also the infinite well of the internet.”
This eclectic approach helped him merge Rowling’s vivid universe with a grand European aesthetic. Heraldic motifs, alchemical symbols, and architectural filigree meet lightning bolts, house crests, and flying broomsticks. The result is a style that feels timeless and opulent—a visual language where each detail has its place.
Hogwarts by Design
Bruno took particular delight in reinterpreting one of Hogwarts’ most iconic elements: the school’s crest. For each house—Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin—he developed typographic flourishes and visual textures that enriched their representation.
He described it as a personal challenge and a highlight of the project: “Experimenting with combinations of graphics for all four houses” was not just an exercise in design, but an act of storytelling.
Here, the crest wasn’t just a symbol. It was a point of entry into Hogwarts itself—refined, aged, and full of secrets.
A cloak, a scarf, and a smile
Bruno’s love for the series isn’t confined to the drawing board. During the Harry Potter anniversary celebration at the Frankfurt Book Fair, he didn’t just attend as an honored illustrator. He participated—fully robed in Gryffindor attire.
“I must confess that even though I am now older than half a century, on that occasion I wore the Gryffindor cloak and scarf with pleasure and pride!”
For fans who lined up for hours to break world records, or for those clutching Bruno’s new editions in their hands, it was a reminder that even the artists behind the curtain are enchanted by the magic.
Between two worlds
Bruno’s most important artistic priority? Letting the name Harry Potter shine.
With every swirl of ink and gilded border, he never lost sight of the core. “Putting all my references together with J.K. Rowling’s universe has allowed me to vent my passion… while keeping those two words that we all love in the centre: Harry Potter.”
That phrase, he says, is not just a title. It’s a promise. A portal. A shared memory for millions. And through his ornate, baroque covers, he ensures it continues to sparkle.
A visual legacy
Iacopo Bruno’s Harry Potter covers are more than an anniversary project. They are an artistic legacy—a tribute to fantasy, craft, and the enduring magic of books. In an age of digital speed and fleeting images, his work invites readers to pause, to study, and to marvel.
From the scrolling typography to the decorative motifs, Bruno’s illustrations echo the spirit of Rowling’s world—dense, layered, immersive. They are books you hold with both hands and examine slowly, letting the artwork guide your imagination back into a castle hidden from view.
More than a redesign, Bruno’s editions are a re-enchantment—a spell recast, and made even more beautiful.