Throughout the book, Winfrey shares anecdotes from her own traumatic past, combining storytelling and science in a compelling and helpful way. We wanted to do the same with the book’s design—to ensure that the subject matter felt approachable rather than intimidating without diminishing the science. To accomplish this, we worked with the team at Headcase Design and with illustrator Henry Sene Yee to create a series of stunning abstract watercolor illustrations at the start of each chapter. Working in close collaboration with Dr. Perry, we partnered with the same team to design the book’s infographics, aiming to make them feel softer and less technical while still clearly communicating the often complicated subject matter.
What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing
What Happened to You? is the fourth book that we’ve had the honor of producing for Oprah Winfrey. Through a series of conversations between her and Dr. Bruce Perry, one of the world’s leading experts on childhood trauma, this book examines the ways that our physical and mental health can be impacted by early adversity and offers a clearer path to the future through this understanding.
Marrying Content with Design
To distinguish between Oprah and Dr. Perry’s voices throughout the book, we used color—a bright blue typeface indicates that Oprah is speaking and complements the art throughout. The book’s soothing watercolor case connects seamlessly with its jacket design, and a pop of green on the endpapers adds a final touch.
