Book Cover Designs

This project is a set of three book covers for classic dystopian literature.

[Photos Below:

Top row: Various design experiments with 1984

Bottom row: Initial colours for the final covers]

This set of book covers aimed to represent the oppressive relationship between the leader figures and civilians of the three novels with a vibrant design geared to a modern audience. After doing extensive research and thoroughly reading them, I decided on a symbol for the methods of oppression unique to each novel. I chose watchful eyes for Nineteen Eighty-Four, mind-numbing SOMA pills for Brave New World, and knowledge-burning flames for Fahrenheit 451. These symbols are all highlighted in white, standing out from the other vibrant colours. The titles of the novels are shown with caution tape, further adding to the modern dystopic atmoshpere. People with prior knowledge of the stories portrayed in each novel may notice the symbolism of the people lined up on the covers' bottom half. Nineteen Eighty-Four shows people in strict unity with no regard for individualism, but one man sneakily tries to revolt against the regime. Brave New World shows people smiling without a care in the world, living hedonistic lifestyles devoid of real fulfilment, a horrifying view for people outside this supposed 'civilised' society. Finally, Fahrenheit 451 shows people having their brains burned off, a symbol for their manufactured lack of knowledge and barbaric behaviour whilst a minority of people still cling on to the knowledge of the past behind the backs of the authorities.