“Through the Looking Glass” is a stunningly popular story written by Lewis Carroll. With hundreds of adaptations and parodies, I knew designing unique covers would provide a challenge. And that is exactly what I was excited about! With all three of the designs, I wanted to make sure I avoided creating extra assumptions about the book. I didn't look into any other media associated other than my research and brainstorming. I read the book for myself.
My 1st cover is playing with fun colors and sizes because a theme within the book focuses on growing up. The colorful words are reminiscent of candy taffy or candy glass that shows off Alice’s age of 11. I messed with the size and hierarchy of the text because Alice is going through experiences that are forcing her into a grown-up mindset she isn't quite ready for. In the end, she is more mature but regardless, a kid. The base of the cover has smaller text showing elegance in negative space- representing the mature act of having lots of ideas but speaking briefly for effectiveness.
My 2nd cover shows off a paper doll, a popular activity for children that existed while Lewis Carrol was alive. Children can dress up the paper figure with included clothes placed on top. This can offer many roles the figure can be in the child's mind. In this story, Alice is the child being thrown into many different roles. The cover shows off a total of four outfits aside from the base dress the Alice figure is wearing. It was enjoyable to add an outfit as a homage to Disney's animated “Alice in Wonderland”. It adds a hidden challenge to the potential reader- as the general population is likely to have assigned our 11-year-old a stereotype based on Disney’s adaptation.
My 3rd cover is aimed at a slightly older audience, but I believe this book is enjoyable for older readers. Lewis Carroll was a mathematician who loved wordplay and designed each sentence with fun and challenging ideas. In the book, Alice walks through a large mirror in her Father's study to explore Wonderland. I can imagine if the mirror shattered, a fraction of each character and place could be seen within the shards. If Alice looked into the mirror herself, what would she see? Her real self or a “Wonderland version” and any reader can ask “What part is real of her?” But an older reader could question that same thing about themselves. Is the true nature of adults more of a child than we want to allow? The idea of the design is to invite adults into a fun and silly world with their inner child by showing a modern cover.
