Cannery Row was written by Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck. The story is about a small town called Cannery Row and its denizens. In exchange for the kindness of a local marine biologist nick named Doc, the locals decide to throw a party for him. Without his presence, the party becomes out of control and the Doc’s home and lab is left trashed by the locals of Cannery Row. In order to redeem themselves, they throw another carefully planned party reassuring his presence this time around. The novel ends simply with the Doc reflecting upon his life and cleaning the mess from the party.
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This is a submission as a student.
My design approach to Cannery Row’s book cover was for it to be light and modern, while conveying the subtle themes and messages in the book. Throughout the book, there are mentions of Mac and his friends collecting frogs for the Doc. The novel is themed in representations and underlying social commentaries, I felt the frogs were a visual metaphor of the denizens that inhabited Cannery Row, questionable in their characters, but neither threatening nor dangerous. Frogs are also health indicators of an ecosystem as they are both prey and predators. Scientists evaluate frog species as many other animals are affected by them. The Frogs on the design, serve the multipurpose of being the rooftop for the homes, visually communicating a theme of community and simplicity in the town of Cannery Row.
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The Consolations of Philosophy by Alain De Botton is a self help book that explores the classical teachings of the great Philosophers; Socrates, Epicurus, Seneca, Motaigne, Schopahaues and Nietzsche. Alain De Botton utilises their teachings by simplifying their messages and connecting them to the modern day woes, empathetic to the average 21st century citizen. Concerns he discusses in the book are; being unpopular, having financial difficulties, feeling inadequate, heartbreaks and encountering difficulties.
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This is a submission as a student.
This is a submission as a student.
The book cover design of The Consolations of Philosophy is inspired by wisdom and knowledge. With a playful, enigmatic approach I chose the blue lotus and the owl to represent the content of the book.
In Egypt the blue lotus symbolises rebirth. In the East (Buddhism) the blue lotus is known to represent victory of the spirit, wisdom, intelligence and knowledge. Which I think is to be very fitting to the theme
of the book. Though it is not obvious I also illustrated the owls heads, which in Greek Mythology represents wisdom and learning. Combined together I intended to create a cover that will be lively and obscure. Hopefully generating interest on the subject matter, encouraging browsers to purchase the book.
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High Fidelity is the first novel written by Nick Hornby. The story is about a record store owner named Rob Fleming and his relationships. Throughout the novel, Rob Fleming analyses his past relationships leading up to his current breakup, with his girlfriend Laura. In a turn of events Rob and Laura decide to get back together. After awhile Rob becomes interested in a different woman, realising his pattern he tries to correct his commitment issues by symbolically making a mix tape that will focus on Laura’s happiness.
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This is a submission as a student.
As High Fidelity is a romantic novel intended for what I assume is the masculine market, I wanted to continue to appeal to this demography. I used the shapes of two people’s side profiles facing each other while simultaneously making it look like both pieces of a broken heart. The circular path pattern on the background is a representation of a sound wave, reminiscent of Rob Fleming’s love of music and vinyls.
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This is a submission as a student.
As High Fidelity is a romantic novel intended for what I assume is the masculine market, I wanted to continue to appeal to this demography. I used the shapes of two people’s side profiles facing each other while simultaneously making it look like both pieces of a broken heart. The circular path pattern on the background is a representation of a sound wave, reminiscent of Rob Fleming’s love of music and vinyls.
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