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START OVER

Start Over promotional image

Building a bestselling brand

When we were first commissioned to support the Start Over book series, the vision was bold: a multi-volume collection of deeply personal stories from authors around the world, united under one brand. Each book would feature fourteen voices, each voice carrying its own powerful account of resilience, recovery, and reinvention.

START OVER VOLUME ONE image


THE BRANDING CHALLENGE

The challenge was clear from the start. With so many contributors, no two submissions would ever look the same. Images were arriving from every corner of the globe - some from professional shoots, others from mobile phones. Each chapter had to feel unique yet still belong within a consistent, recognisable series. And with volumes scheduled to release on a monthly basis, there was no room for delay.

For the series to succeed, the brand presentation had to match the weight of the stories themselves. Without a unified creative approach, the books risked looking inconsistent, disjointed, or amateur.

Promotional materials for Start Over LIVE London


RUSHFIRTH CREATIVE'S ROLE 

Rushfirth Creative was commissioned to deliver the complete creative framework for Start Over - from brand direction through to final artwork. Our responsibilities included:

DESIGN

Creating the overarching brand identity and page design language across every volume.

PRODUCTION

Developing layouts for each author’s chapter, with individualised full-page portraits.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Managing the flow of photography from contributors worldwide.

RETOUCHING

Cutting out, resizing, and preparing hundreds of images to print-ready standards.

MARKETING

Creating author funnels and marketing visuals to support promotion.

This wasn’t just graphic design - 
it was end-to-end creative direction, brand guardianship, and technical production.


Lulu Mystique personal brand image


OUR APPROACH TO THE BRAND CREATION

From the very beginning, our philosophy was simple: put the authors at the centre.

Each contributor’s portrait wasn’t treated as ‘just an image’ but as a brand statement. Whether a contributor sent us a polished headshot or a quick phone selfie, our job was to elevate it to the level of a national magazine cover. Decades of experience in image retouching, lighting correction, digital cutouts, and layout work gave us the tools to achieve that.

Every single author page was artworked individually in InDesign, while hours of Photoshop work ensured polish, consistency, and cohesion. No templates. No shortcuts. Just careful, meticulous artistry.

For those authors who wanted to step further into the spotlight, we provided full personal branding shoots. These sessions weren’t just about ‘taking pictures’ - they gave authors an entire library of cut-out images, carefully art-directed to align with their emerging profile. Many travelled long distances, some internationally, to work with us in person - a testament to the trust they placed in our process.

Behind the scenes, our production expertise kept the operation running. With a new volume rolling out each month, timing was critical. 
Four decades of experience in branding and artwork meant we could manage tight deadlines without compromising quality.


Sarah Johnson promotional image


THE RESULTING START OVER BRAND

The outcome has been clear:
every single Start Over book released so far has become an Amazon bestseller.

For the authors, the impact has been tangible:
Seeing themselves represented as leaders in print - often for the first time.
Owning professional, versatile brand imagery to use across websites, campaigns, and social media.
Gaining the confidence and credibility to launch or grow their personal brand profiles.

For the Start Over brand, the cohesive design language has created instant recognition. Readers know what to expect when they see a new volume. The books look consistent on a shelf, and yet each chapter feels personal, carefully tailored, and elevated.


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Get in touch if you would love to benefit from the comprehensive support offered by Rushfirth Creative
Click on the images below to view full size
Start Over LIVE London event promotional assets
Overview of author images with their corresponding book image
Client promotional asset for Start Over Volume 6