Tasked to redesign our favorite book, I chose I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak. The story is essentially a coming of age story set to a card suites theme which I wanted to reflect on the overall design. The story itself is divided into the four suites so each illustration contains items and hints of each part of the story. All together, the illustrations and colors resemble a deck where the story can be played out in full.
Book Cover Redesign
(2011)
"Not Edward. Not Edwin. Not even Eddy.
Just Ed.
Just Ed, the underage cabby. Just Ed, the pathetic card player. Just Ed, the sexual midget.
That's the sum of Ed Kennedy's ninteen years of existance.
Until the day he becomes Ed, the accidental hero of a pathetic attempt of a bank robbery.
His reward? (or is it a punishment?)
An ace in the mail. One after the other -
Diamonds for defending. Clubs for fighting.
Spades for digging. Hearts for feeling.
Spades for digging. Hearts for feeling.
And Ed plays messenger to lovely old ladies, cussing priests, underage thugs, familial strangers and so many more.
With each and every help and hurt he gives out, Ed starts to question the world and his place in it.
Is it time to be more than just Ed?
The cards are played until the last question remains:
who's the dealer behing the aces?"
Personal Copy
(2011)
Illustrations:
Diamonds for defending. Clubs for fighting.
Spades for digging. Hearts for feeling.
Illustrations
Ink and Digital
(2011)
