This is 10 Questions, an interview series where we get to know the designers from the directory a little better. Today, meet Micaela Alcaino. Micaela lives in London and freelances full time. She is known for her intricate, detailed hand-drawn illustrations, widely used for novels and particularly those in the fantasy and sci-fi genres. Check out her portfolio site here.
1. Visually take us through your professional journey. Create a diagram that summarizes your career to date.
2. Do you ever go through periods where you feel completely creatively tapped out? How do you refill your cup and then get back to work?
Micaela Alcaino: Absolutely! Creative burnout or creative block is something that hits all of us at some point. Constantly generating ideas can be exhausting!
Personally, I’ve found that traveling works wonders for replenishing my creativity and my soul. There’s just something about immersing myself in new places, meeting new people, trying different cuisines, and marvelling at breathtaking sights that really gets my creativity flowing again.
When traveling isn’t an option, I opt for simpler pleasures like taking long walks with my dog Jojo on Hampstead Heath, exploring exhibitions, going to the cinema or doing archery. These activities help me break out of my routine and come back to work with a fresh perspective. Interestingly enough, it’s often during these downtime moments that I find solutions to the creative challenges I’ve been facing.
3. Based on experience, what city stands out to you as the most inspiring place to visit if you are an artist?
Micaela Alcaino: Ahhhh there is SO MANY TO CHOOSE FROM! If I can be cheeky and say my top THREE would be Florence (Italy), Khiva (Uzbekistan), or Thimphu (Bhutan). Each for entirely different reasons! But what all three cities have in common is richness in history, culture, and art, three things we can always learn and be inspired from.
4. Tell me about someone from your past who played a role in you becoming the designer you are today. What did you learn from them? Or, how did knowing them impact your career trajectory?
Micaela Alcaino: When I reflect on who’s shaped me the most, it’s definitely my parents. They’ve been incredible role models, especially in nurturing creativity. From drawing to building with LEGO to exploring photography, they always supported my sister and I.
I remember Mom patiently drawing with us when we were really young, while I watched my Dad taking risks and building his own business against all odds. Watching them immigrate to Australia, overcome challenges, and succeed in their goals taught me invaluable lessons in resilience and determination. My parents’ willingness to embrace new experiences and pursue their dreams has definitely shaped my own attitude towards life.
5. As a freelancer, what’s something that you miss about being in-house?
Micaela Alcaino: I miss being able to talk to other designers and ask their opinions on things, and just general chit chat.
When I was at HarperCollins I used to work alongside the wonderful Andrew Davis, who was an utter joy to work alongside and we had a good laugh on a daily basis. I also miss being able to walk over to editorial and have a chat about a project.
The downside of freelance is 99% of your communications are on email, but the upside as a freelancer is being able to work your own hours (including cheeky 2pm naps!)
6. Do you use any tools besides the usual Adobe products? What are they!
Micaela Alcaino: I use Procreate to illustrate, which I absolutely love. Before that I was illustrating on a Wacom tablet straight to Photoshop, but since I started using Procreate everything feels a lot more intuitive when illustrating.
Additionally, Speechify has become an indispensable tool in my routine. It’s a fantastic app that uses hi resolution AI voices to read out your manuscripts (or any PDF) for you. Without it I wouldn’t be able to get through reading all my manuscripts! I love the Gwyneth Paltrow voice, among a few others, and I let it play in the background when I’m designing, with a notepad ready in case any great visuals show up in the story.
7. Which celebrity memoir are you dying to work on?
Micaela Alcaino: You say Pedro Pascal and I will be the first in line.
8. Name one author you would love to design for before you retire.
Micaela Alcaino: I used to always say Patrick Rothfuss, who is my all time favourite author. And just last year Gollancz ask me to do new covers for his books, which made all my dreams come true.
I also have a project in the works which was my other all time favourite author, hopefully that can all be revealed soon! So I think I can definitely say I can retire happy!
9. How do you balance creating a cover that has mass market appeal with creating something truly unique?
Micaela Alcaino: Research, research, research. I am a fiend for doing my research on all the books I design for. Aside from reading the manuscript, I immerse myself in understanding the essence of the text, exploring the historical or thematic contexts, and analysing the genre and its market trends.
I often advise against relying solely on existing book covers for inspiration. Otherwise, your designs risk mirroring what’s already saturating the market. By gaining a deep understanding of the book’s essence and its intended audience, you can then build on that foundation to create something unique. Staying attuned to trends across design, colour palettes, typography, art, cinema, and fashion can serve as a wellspring of creativity, pushing you to explore unconventional ideas. And then it’s all a matter of playing until you find routes that work! Play is key!
10. The INABC Exit Question. You’re at a party and you just told a stranger that you’re a book cover designer. What’s the most common response you get from people when they hear this?
Micaela Alcaino: I get two extremes, both of these are the most common:
“Oh that’s really cool, what books have you done?”
OR
“Oh… I didn’t even know that was a job!”
