CREATIVE LEAD
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
BOOK DESIGN
ILLUSTRATION
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Matilda & the
Miracle Child
THE ROALD DAHL STORY COMPANY
Matilda & The Miracle Child is a celebration of the power of children. Yet Roald Dahl's famous story – as well as its two main protagonists, the child genius Matilda and the evil headmistress Miss Trunchbull – went through many versions before arriving at their final incarnations.
Using a wealth of visual archival material, and a colour palette themed around the two rivals, the book explores the process of how the story, the concept and the characters evolved and how the book became a manual for self-empowerment.
Dig in
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The Roald Dahl Story Company wished to create a unique gift for the cast and crew of the Matilda the Musical feature film.
We were given creative freedom to shape the gift. It needed to capture the story's central themes while celebrating the brand's literary heritage. Produced in a limited edition of just 80 copies. -
I worked closely with the team to develop the narrative, themes and overall creative direction of the gift. My colleague and I illustrated the cover artwork for the presentation box and both books, bringing to life the relationship between Matilda and the books that empower her through foiling and debossed finishes.
I also led the design and storytelling of The Miracle Child, an original companion book created especially for the gift. Working with archival material from the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, the Quentin Blake team, and Donald Sturrock, I shaped the narrative, information hierarchy and visual design, using colour, paper stocks and materials to tell the parallel journeys of Matilda and Miss Trunchbull.
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The gift was presented in a bespoke folio containing two books and two prints, designed around a simple colour palette inspired by Quentin Blake's original illustrations. Blue represented Matilda, while military green reflected Miss Trunchbull, creating a visual thread across every element.
Alongside a newly typeset edition of Matilda, The Miracle Child combined original drafts, letters, photographs and artwork with carefully selected paper stocks to create a rich editorial experience. The set was completed with personalised prints, custom calligraphy and premium finishing throughout.
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The result was a highly crafted collector's piece that celebrated the making of Matilda and the story's lasting message of child power and self empowerment. By combining thoughtful storytelling, archival material and carefully considered production, the gift became a meaningful keepsake for the cast and crew while honouring Roald Dahl's literary legacy.
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Book Design D&AD Shortlist
Donald Sturrock | Author & Biographer
Quentin Blake | Illustrations & Archive Materials
Anna Lincoln | Senior Design Manager
Juli Haas | Senior Graphic Designer
Louise Newman | Proofreader
Tim Sumner | Artworker
Olive & Reid Studio | Calligraphy
Kingsbury Press | Production
We Are Studio | Photography
With thanks to:
The Roald Dahl Story Company, The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre and Quentin Blake.
