Discover Adriana Narbona’s Lorien and the Forgotten Kingdoma richly illustrated children’s book that showcases world-building, emotional color and editorial craftsmanship.
Every now and then we come across a project that reminds us why illustration and editorial design remain such powerful storytelling tools. Lorien and the Forgotten Kingdom, a completely self-made children’s book by Seville-based designer and illustrator Adriana Narbona, is one of those projects. It combines world-building, narrative illustration, and thoughtful editorial craftsmanship into an immersive experience that sits beautifully at the intersection of design and fantasy.
Adriana grew up surrounded by art, magic and the quiet allure of fantasy literature. Years spent in traditional fine arts schools laid the foundation: four-hour painting classes, an academic path shaped by illustration, and an early obsession with mystical worlds. Later, her studies in Graphic Design and a specialization in Branding at IED sharpened her eye for contemporary visual identity, editorial systems and typographic nuance. Lorien and The Forgotten Kingdom are where all these parts come together.
A self-contained world built from scratch
What makes this project particularly attractive is that Adriana created everything. The writing, illustration, layout, visual identity, color language, typography and associated materials are all created by her hand. Initially developed as her final year project, the book received an excellent grade and it is easy to see why.
The story follows Lorien, a young heroine who must face a threat that is overtaking her country and destroying the natural world around her. Guided by courage and heart, she journeys through a medieval-inspired fantasy world full of talking animals, magic, and the kind of narrative textures that evoke classic folklore. The themes – personal growth, environmental awareness, courage – are universal, but Adriana’s visual approach makes them feel intimate and contemporary.
Editorial craft meets sensory storytelling
In addition to the illustrations, the book uses editorial design as an emotional driver. Typography shifts to mirror tone, visual textures create atmosphere and layout decisions encourage exploration. This is not just a picture book; it is a tactile, sensory experience.
To further enrich the world, Adriana designed complementary elements that extend the story beyond the page: interactive pieces, sensory components and a beautifully structured information booklet that explains the graphic system behind the book. It’s the kind of thinking we like to see; design is used not only to contain a story, but also to extend it.
A designer who shapes her own creative universe
Adriana describes her style as a mix of fantasy illustrations, contemporary editorial design and a narrative visual identity. Her influences include folklore, nature, character-driven stories and traditional picture books. In Lorien and The Forgotten Kingdom you can feel all these threads working together in harmony.
The project has not yet been published, but it is already a fully realized universe, one that feels ready to step into the world.
For designers, illustrators, and anyone who values ​​world-building, Adriana’s work is a reminder of the power of immersive storytelling and the role editorial design can play in shaping narrative emotion. View more of Adriana’s work HERE.
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