When tasked with coming up with more portfolio content, I knew right away that a book cover design would be a great opportunity. For starters, book covers are just fun to design overall, but when I get to design for something I’m truly passionate about, the process becomes even more exciting.

The pale pink I used to display the title was almost too high contrast, and much of the hand was lost to the visual weight of the words themself. The i and the t of Lolita are import though, as is the separation of the sounds themselves. 

Consider for a moment that Lolita was originally written in Russian- the name Lolita is just “Lola” (one of Dolores’ many nicknames) with the “it” phrase in it. The “it” is stuck onto names to invoke a sense of cuteness or fondness, so the name Lolita is more like saying “my little Lola”. While highlighting the “it” is an odd decision from a design standpoint, it has a meaning for the readers; who are ultimately the audience of this.

After being glamorized by sex-hungry men for a generation, it's high time Lolita sees the light of day again. For this modern design, I wanted to draw readers in with a pastel, almost "coquette" aesthetic with a more sinister look. This time, the spotlight is on Humbert, and his hand holding out a lollipop to draw in his victim. After all- why else do mothers warn against accepting candy from strangers? 

Want to see more about this Lolita book cover Redesign? Consider checking it out on my website (found in bio)! There, I break down the full process from concept to execution.