First, a warning: I am one of those geeks. You know the ones. The ones who are still obsessed with Harry Potter long after it stopped being cool. The ones who could tell you the entire history of the Marauder’s Map faster than they could tell you their own social security number. The ones who look at the Daily Prophet prop design and think, Yes, this is a level of detail worth dedicating my life to.
If that’s you, too? Welcome, my friend. You’re in danger.
Because The Magic of MinaLima is the most unnecessary, extravagant, glorious purchase you will ever make. And you’re going to love every second of it.
A Book So Beautiful It Could Be a Scam
Let’s start with the obvious: this book is freaking gorgeous. Like, offensively so. Every page is an explosion of color, texture, and tiny, intricate details that make you want to lick the printing press that made it. There are interactive elements. Fold-out pages. Art so rich it makes you reconsider your entire life’s career choices. (Why did I not become a graphic designer? Could I still become a graphic designer? How do I start??)
MinaLima, if you don’t know, is the powerhouse design duo responsible for basically all the graphic design in the Harry Potter films. Every Hogwarts textbook, every candy wrapper at Honeydukes, every Have You Seen This Wizard? poster—it was them. They are the reason the Wizarding World doesn’t just feel like a story, but like a real place you could visit.
And this book? It’s their story. It’s full of behind-the-scenes sketches, concept art, and tiny details that make you go, Wait, why do I have such strong opinions about the typography on a fictional broomstick catalog?
For Fans of Magic, Design, and Spending Money on Pretty Things
Now, do you need this book? Absolutely not.
But should you buy it anyway? Yes, of course, what is wrong with you?
This book is for:
• Harry Potter nerds who still dream of getting a Hogwarts letter (we are legion)
• People who get a weird, tingly feeling when they see really good typography
• Those who believe that books should be touched and experienced and not just read
• Anyone who has ever impulse-bought a fancy notebook with no intention of actually writing in it
It’s not just about Harry Potter, either. MinaLima has done stunning work on classic fairy tales like Peter Pan, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and The Secret Garden, and their creative process is on full display here. Even if you don’t care about wizards (??), you’ll find something in this book that makes your little goblin heart happy.
Final Verdict: Buy It, You Coward
Listen. I know we’re all trying to be responsible with our money. But I also know that sometimes, the soul demands unnecessary beauty. And if you have ever spent way too long admiring the design of the Quibbler while everyone else was paying attention to the plot, The Magic of MinaLima belongs on your shelf.
Buy it. Pet it. Stroke the interactive pages like the beautiful, expensive paper baby that it is. And then justify your purchase by telling yourself, Well, at least it’s not another wand from Universal Studios.
(But also, if you do get another wand, I support you.)
