Book Jacket Designs - Peter Kery

Students designed a book jacket for a publication of their choice. They developed an original visual interpretation of the book’s narrative, themes, and emotional tone. This project emphasized research, sketching, and iterative concept development to determine which imagery and visual language most effectively communicated the essence of the written work. The project reinforces the role of the graphic designer as an interpreter, translating written narratives into visual experiences through research, critical analysis, and purposeful design decisions.

Class discussions explored the fundamental differences between storytelling in literature and storytelling in film. It was made clear that presentation of typography and visual elements be based on the original text and not a movie, especially if the story had been reinterpreted to film. This encouraged students to interpret the original text rather than rely on imagery from cinematic adaptations. Students investigated how typography, symbolism, composition, color, and abstraction could communicate either a pivotal moment within the story or its broader thematic character. The resulting designs demonstrate the ability to translate narrative into visual form while creating a compelling and marketable publication.