One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
Penguin Design Award 2012
My entry for the Penguin Design Awards 2012, a cover design for the Ken Kesey classic, 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.'
A major turning point that I identified within the book is during a game of Monopoly, where McMurphy joins in and ends up getting angry with the other players, for not properly following the rules or understanding the game, resulting in anger and arguments.
Monopoly could also be classed as an important metaphor for the theme of freedom. In Western culture, capitalism and the ability to consume is seen as having freedom and the game of Monopoly gives the patients in the story, the opportunity to buy and consume; real world.
A major turning point that I identified within the book is during a game of Monopoly, where McMurphy joins in and ends up getting angry with the other players, for not properly following the rules or understanding the game, resulting in anger and arguments.
Monopoly could also be classed as an important metaphor for the theme of freedom. In Western culture, capitalism and the ability to consume is seen as having freedom and the game of Monopoly gives the patients in the story, the opportunity to buy and consume; real world.
My final book cover is based on the grid of a Monopoly board, and it also represents how I imagine the patients ward to be laid out; regimented and small, enclosed rooms. The square at the front is actually the ‘In Jail’ square which sums up the feeling of the institute.
The main colour of the book cover is white, to show the clinical-ness of the ward and the white uniform of the governing Nurse Ratched. To add another connection to the theme of freedom, I added in the red and blue to
complete the colours of the American flag, an image that many regard as a symbol for freedom. The title of the book is placed above the Monopoly board, the ‘cuckoo’s nest’ of the cover, to show Chief Bromden escaping from the hospital.
The main colour of the book cover is white, to show the clinical-ness of the ward and the white uniform of the governing Nurse Ratched. To add another connection to the theme of freedom, I added in the red and blue to
complete the colours of the American flag, an image that many regard as a symbol for freedom. The title of the book is placed above the Monopoly board, the ‘cuckoo’s nest’ of the cover, to show Chief Bromden escaping from the hospital.
I also produced a poster to advertise the launch of the book, using the same imagery that was placed on the cover.
