Holes Book Jacket
Design | Illustration | Layout
Synopsis
The story Holes follows a young boy named Stanley Yelnats the 5th who is falsely accused of stealing and sent to an all boys detention center, Camp Greenlake. Throughout his journey, he develops friendships and uncovers the truth of a curse that plagues his family for generations.
The Challenge
The aim was to create a design that would spark curiosity and intrigue in potential readers, compelling them to pick up and explore further. My goal was to evoke a sense of mystery in my design, the viewer to question the connection between the cover design and the contents within. As I began I had a clear vision of the themes and symbols I wished to incorporate from the story.
Inspiration and Research
Existing Covers
In my research, I made sure to look into the book's previous and present covers. This helped me avoid doing the same thing again, figure out what worked and what didn't, and keep the new design in line with the book's overall essence.
Moodboard
In putting together a moodboard my goal was to capture the intrigue and mystery of the story while keeping it relatable for young adults. I wanted to maintain a calm and curious vibe, steering away from anything too serious. Yet continuing to use brighter colors, to catch attention. Taking inspiration from previous book covers, I looked for designs with vibrant colors, simple, playful icons and patterns.
Icons sketches
I created some sketches of the icons used throughout the story to get a visual idea on which ones work well together or are just strong on their own.
Cover Sketches
In my sketches, I experimented with a variety of ideas inspired by pivotal events in the storyline. I aimed to capture the essence of the story by placing the icons within desert-like scenery reminiscent of the story's setting. This approach helped evoke the dry and desolate atmosphere portrayed in the book. Additionally, I explored abstract concepts to convey the themes and mood of the story. After sketching many ideas, I began refining these ideas.
Refined Sketch Ideas
I selected a few sketch ideas that branched out in three distinct directions and then refined them. Now, I plan to expand the cover design to include all five sides of the jacket. I'll start digitizing these sketches, explore color options, and incorporate text on all sides.
Digital Drafts
Round 1
From my refined sketches, I chose the strongest designs and expanded them to create the full book jacket, exploring color schemes and layouts. Transitioning to digital refinement, I focused on using orange, tying into the jumpsuits worn by the main characters and alluding to the dry desert setting. From here, I would narrow down my color choice and clean up text.
Round 2
In the second round, I concentrated on the second option for moving forward, which centers on the symbols found throughout the story. While these objects may seem unrelated and odd outside of the story context, they hold significance as markers and themes throughout the narrative, which creates the intrigue that I am aiming for.
Final Design
Reflection
This project was truly enjoyable for me. "Holes" holds a special place in my heart as one of my favorite stories, largely due to its rich symbols, themes, and interconnected timelines. Condensing elements of the story into simple yet meaningful artwork presented a delightful challenge. Looking ahead, I'm eager to dive into more book cover designs. I believe it's a fantastic way to explore themes and storytelling, skills that I know will carry over into future projects.