This jacket design is inspired by the style of Paul Bacon, who is known for his impactful cover designs for jazz records and books. Bacon introduced his signature "Big Book Look" in 1956 with his cover art for Meyer Levin's novel Compulsion; this look, which features a large, striking title, an eminent author's name, and a simple, conceptual image, is seen on many book jackets throughout his career. Using Bacon's iconic style, I chose to design an updated cover to the William Golding's Lord of the Flies, the story of a group of young boys stranded on a deserted island who attempt to govern themselves only to descend into savagery.
I was specifically inspired by Bacon's jacket designs for Joseph Heller's Catch-22 and Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest because of their strong typography and subtly irregular linear arrangements; and by Golding's lucid and powerful themes and imagery. I created a graphic and bold title that is cut by background lines, which represents a child's innocence pierced by savagery. The title, author's name, and jagged lines frame the central image of a single, isolated figure to exude the dark influence of the extreme wilderness on civilized people. This cover presents a vivid picture of the novel and a clear message about the power of primitivism in the absence of peaceful humanity.
