This project is a redesign of one of my favorite books, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The book cover design is intended to capture the essence of this unique story – quirkiness, introspection, and sensitivity. My biggest challenge was conveying the complex emotions in this book without it appearing too dark or ominous. Overall, the character is a positive person who happens to struggle through periods of darkness. I chose to use the mixtape because that is one of the ways that he can connect with people. It showcases his high capacity for empathy; playing music at parties, making personalized tapes for friends. Furthermore, it portrays his mental and emotional unravelling.
Another challenge when designing this cover was in balancing the story’s softness with the fact that the main character is an angsty teenage boy. Charlie is incredibly sensitive and I knew that it was important to capture that. However, I also wanted to avoid getting too flowery. This was especially difficult due to the “wallflower” in the title. I chose strokes on the letterforms that would mimic the unravelling cassette tape and a soft blue gradient with subtle textures to indicate his deep-seated depression. Lastly, one of the most important decisions when redesigning this cover was to incorporate hand lettering. It brought a human element to an already emotional story and allowed the design to showcase a distinct personality.
