Olly Moss
A Fan Turned Illustrator
Olly Moss’s journey with the Harry Potter series began like that of many fans: with curiosity, awe, and a touch of snobbery. As a ten-year-old, he initially turned his nose up at Philosopher's Stone, only to be persuaded later by his mother—armed with the adult covers—to give the series a try. From that moment on, Harry Potter became a staple of his imagination. Years later, when Pottermore asked Moss to create new covers for the eBook series, he leapt at the opportunity. A self-professed Potterhead, Moss poured his heart into the pitch, delivering not one, but five unique concepts, each complete with sketches for all seven books.
The project was personal. Moss called it a “labour of love,” driven not by obligation but by pure passion. Even the idea of J.K. Rowling possibly disliking his work was more terrifying to him than the thought of rejection. As a fan first and foremost, he understood the sacredness of the Harry Potter universe.
Signature Style and Inspirations
Known for his innovative, minimalist design style, Moss draws heavily from modernist graphic designers such as Saul Bass and Paul Rand. A huge influence was Jason Munn, whose gig posters introduced Moss to the concept of double imagery—a stylistic signature that has since become a hallmark of his work. Each illustration Moss creates tells more than one story. “I like things to have more than one layer,” he says. “There’s an initial, ‘Oh, that’s an attractive image,’ and then a secondary reveal.”
This dual-layer design philosophy permeates his Harry Potter covers. From the scar motif of Deathly Hallows to the hidden Dark Mark in Half-Blood Prince, Moss’s work rewards the close observer. For him, the magic of Rowling’s world lies in the interplay between the mundane and the magical—a theme that resonates deeply in his artwork.
The eBook Covers and Beyond
When tasked with designing the eBook covers, Moss faced the challenge of creating art that worked both in colour and grayscale—a requirement for black-and-white e-readers. His preferred design—seven variations on a single Hogwarts landscape—was set aside for being too subtle in monochrome. Still, the approach selected became iconic in its own right, showcasing Moss’s ability to distill complex themes into bold, recognizable imagery.
His favourite? The Deathly Hallows cover. “It’s the image that has summed up Harry Potter in my mind for such a long time,” he explains. Others, like Half-Blood Prince, were trickier—how to depict Snape without giving away key plot points? Moss ultimately focused on the imagery of Dumbledore and Harry battling the Inferi.
The German Audiobook Posters
In another major project, Moss was commissioned by Pottermore to design covers for the German Harry Potter audiobooks. This time, he took inspiration from 1950s British railway posters. Each cover resembled a nostalgic travel advert, with Hogwarts at its heart. “There is something very British about that,” he remarked. “Harry getting on a train and going somewhere exciting every year.”
These posters were uniform in layout but rich in hidden detail. “I tried to fill them with as many little details as I could,” Moss said, pointing out the Dark Mark hidden in the clouds of the Half-Blood Prince poster. Designed as a cohesive set, he resisted picking a favourite, though he admitted Chamber of Secrets most closely mirrored the authentic vintage poster look he was aiming for.
Artistic Integrity and Career Philosophy
Moss’s career spans T-shirts, comics, posters, branding, and beyond. He got his start designing for Threadless.com, where he learned that a strong concept could outweigh weak execution. That lesson guided him through projects big and small—from indie film posters to high-profile campaigns.
His relationship with clients often begins with speculative sketches—he prefers to pitch what he truly wants to make rather than what he thinks the client expects. “They’ve come to me because of the work in my portfolio,” he says. “I want to give them more of that.”
Even when faced with the daunting responsibility of illustrating Harry Potter, Moss’s approach was true to form: layered, nostalgic, and deeply conceptual. “I wouldn’t work on something that I didn’t really love,” he insists, “because I wouldn’t do a good job.”
The Broader Impact and Legacy
Moss’s work now adorns covers that millions of readers see when they open the Harry Potter books—an unimaginable honour for someone who once crashed on a hotel floor at Comic-Con, waiting for a phone call that would change his career. His designs are painted on studio walls, sold as collectible posters, and even hung in the homes of fellow fans.
Although he is often self-deprecating, the pride Moss takes in contributing to the Harry Potter universe is palpable. His unique blend of design heritage, fan devotion, and visual storytelling has given new life to the Wizarding World—and a new face to a story beloved by generations.
From Snape’s silhouette to the scar that shaped a saga, Olly Moss has made his mark on Harry Potter, not by reinventing it, but by lovingly revealing what was always there—just beneath the surface.